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THE GREEN ABALONE 
Haliotis fulgens, page 242 



West Coast Shells 

(Revised Edition) 

A DESCRIPTION OF THE PRINCIPAL MARINE MOLLUSKS 

LIVING ON THE WEST COAST OF THE UNITED 

STATES, AND OF THE LAND SHELLS 

OF THE ADJACENT REGION 



By 
JOSIAH KEEP, A. M. 

PROFESSOR OF GEOLOGY 
MILLS COLLEGE 

Also a Chapter on the Fresh Water Mollusks of the Pacific Slope 

By 
HAROLD HANNIBAL 

OF STANFORD UNIVERSITY 



FULLY ILLUSTRATED 



SAN FRANCISCO 

djc »!)ttafeer & &ap-OTtg&ta Company 

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Copyright, 1910 

by 

Josiah Keep 



©CLA2?8687 



PREFACE 



The last quarter of a century has been an important 
period for the science of Conchology. While many 
private collectors have been gathering specimens of all 
kinds, and incidentally making many new discoveries, the 
universities have been establishing seaside laboratories, 
the Government sending out exploring vessels, and the 
learned societies putting forth many publications. Es- 
pecially has the National Museum at Washington been 
issuing its valuable bulletins, embodying the conclusions 
of its painstaking investigators, and making available the 
results of much labor. 

This activity has resulted in the accumulation of much 
new material, and incidentally the changing of many old 
names. The latter work is an ungracious piece of busi- 
ness at best, and has seldom been indulged in wantonly. 
But new views on the subject of classification, new 
researches into former systems of nomenclature, and 
an enlarged knowledge of the fossil progenitors of exist- 
ing species, have compelled the readjustment of what 
before seemed settled. 

It is comparatively easy, when collecting in a small 
field, to separate the specimens into fixed and definite 
groups; but as one's observations become extended, the 
varieties multiply, and increased knowledge of both facts 
and records causes embarrassment. The necessary 
changes, however, even of familiar names, must not be 
too deeply regretted, for they indicate a real advance in 
our conception of the great plan of Nature. 



4 PREFACE 

The kind reception given to my "West Coast Shells," 
and my other efforts to popularize the study of mol- 
lusks, led to the publication, late in 1904, of a larger 
volume, entitled "West American Shells." The great 
conflagration in San Francisco, following the earthquake 
of April, 1906, destroyed practically all of the unsold 
copies of that last edition, though most of the cuts had 
been previously removed to a place of safety. The un- 
settled conditions and the increased duties following the 
earthquake prevented my rewriting the book until 
last summer. It is now to be published under the old 
name, as that seems more appropriate. 

While it cannot be hoped that it is free from mistakes, 
it is certain that some of the errors of the last edition 
have been corrected, and an honest attempt has been 
made to provide a handbook both readable and reliable. 

It is not so complete and full as some teachers desire, 
and no one feels more deeply than the author our need 
of a manual, in which the shells of this region shall be 
fully described in scientific language. We have assur- 
ances that such a volume or series of volumes will be 
published at Washington in due time, and that much 
material has already been collected for that purpose. 
The work is a great one, however, and years may elapse 
before the volumes are issued. Therefore it has not been 
thought wise to delay the publication of this handbook, 
which was never designed to take the place of an 
official manual. 

Though much difficulty has sometimes been experi- 
enced in deciding between the claims of rival syno- 
nyms, the name usually selected has been the latest one 
adopted by standard authors, particularly those con- 
nected with the National Museum. In case of real 
doubt a conservative course has been followed. 



PREFACE 5 

The chapter on Fresh Water Mollusks was written by 
Mr. Harold Hannibal, who is an earnest student in that 
interesting field of research ; and his conclusions, while 
somewhat opposed to past usage, have been adopted by 
him after much investigation. 

Especial acknowledgments are due to the authorities 
of the United States National Museum for permission 
to copy figures found in their bulletins. This permission 
has been freely used, as the large number of illustrations 
marked with an asterisk (*) will testify. Thanks are 
also due to Dr. William H. Dall for helpful suggestions, 
to Mr. and Mrs. T. S. Oldroyd for assistance in various 
ways, to Professor William J. Raymond of the Uni- 
versity of California for help in the study of the Chitons, 
and to the many friends who have encouraged the writer 
to put forth a substitute for the burned book. Thanks 
are due also to the publishers, the Whitaker & Ray- 
Wiggin Company, for their patience, for their assistance 
in preparing suitable colored illustrations, and for put- 
ting the work into so presentable a form. 

In conclusion, I would express my growing appreci- 
ation of the magnitude of the field which I have attempted 
to cover, and my hope that this work may be accepted 
by students as a helpful assistance towards obtaining a 
complete knowledge of West Coast Shells. 



Josiaii Keep 



Mills College, California, 
November 75, iqio. 



TABLE OF CONTENTS 



PAGE 

Preface 3 

Suggestions for Beginners 8 

CHAPTER I. Lamp Shells and Thetr Al- 
lies 9 

CHAPTER II. Mussels and Pectens 32 

CHAPTER III. Oysters and Small Clams.. 50 

CHAPTER IV. Chama, Cardium, and Venus 70 

CHAPTER V. Other Bivalve Mollusks... 86 

CHAPTER VI. Univalve Mollusks 118 

CHAPTER VII. Marine Univalves 130 

CHAPTER VIII. The Smaller Sea Shells. . . 163 

CHAPTER IX. Shells without Canals.... 197 

CHAPTER X. Tops and Turbans 223 

CHAPTER XL Pierced Shells and Chitons 242 

CHAPTER XII. Air - breathing Snails and 

Slugs 263 

CHAPTER XIII. Spiells of Lakes and Streams 299 

Biographical Index 319 

Glossary ^2y 

Appendix , 33 1 

Index 339 



SUGGESTIONS FOR BEGINNERS 



Whenever you collect shells it is well either to make 
a record or write a label stating where and when they 
were found. These labels become increasingly valuable 
as the years go by. There are a number of things which 
you will wish to learn about your specimens, three of 
which are as follows : their names, their structure, and 
the habits of the animals which constructed them. This 
book is designed to enable you to obtain the names, so 
that you may be able to speak of your shells intelligently, 
and to suggest a proper mode of classification. It also 
gives hints concerning the structure and markings of 
the shells, and tells you some things about the mollusks 
to which they originally belonged. 

Very much, however, will depend upon your spirit of 
investigation. Never be satisfied to simply know the 
name of a shell, but go on to learn all that you can 
about the life of its former inhabitant. The more familiar 
you become with this book the easier you will find the 
work of naming shells. Note carefully the general plan 
and the order of the chapters. Study the pictures care- 
fully, and you will soon learn the probable place to turn 
for the description of an unknown shell. Consult the 
Biographical Index, and get acquainted with the men 
who gave names to the shells. Study the Glossary, and 
learn the meaning of all the terms used in the descrip- 
tions. The general Index will help you in the pronunci- 
ation of the Latin names, as the vowel of the syllable to 
be accented is designated by a mark. Keep a record- 
book for drawings and additional descriptions of your 
specimens. Love your work and it will bring you many 
hours of real profit and pure pleasure. 



WEST COAST SHELLS 



CHAPTER I 

LAMP-SHELLS AND THEIR ALLIES 

Almost everybody knows something about sea- 
shells. They are found in nearly every home and 
are used for many different purposes. Some hand- 
some ones are perched in parlors as choice ornaments, 
while round and smooth kinds are given to babies 
for playthings. The very common varieties, like 
oyster-shells, are pounded up for the chickens to eat, 
and by them are converted into the material for egg- 
shells, so necessary for the safe handling of an 
important article of food. Besides the many forms 
from the sea there are others that are frequently 
found in lakes, rivers and smaller streams, while 
snail-shells are occasionally picked up under old 
boards or in the woods, or possibly a live snail is found 
"with his house on his back." The creatures that pro- 
duce shells are called Mollusks, which really means 
soft animals. This name of course refers to their 
bodies, which never have any bones, for the shells 
which protect them are often as hard as stones. 

Some mollusks, however, never have shells at all, 
but. crawl around naked and trust to good luck for 
protection. It saves them a lot of work, both in build- 
ing shells and carrying them around, and so they 
have quite an advantage in some ways over their 
better protected neighbors. We commonly call 



10 WEST COAST SHELLS 

these naked mollusks slugs, and most people have 
very little love for them, for they have greedy appe- 
tites and can destroy young pansies or lettuce plants 
in a single night. During the daytime they com- 
monly keep out of sight, getting into cracks in the 
ground or under old boards, where they may be found 
and destroyed. The chief kinds that live in this 
region will be described on a later page. There are 
some naked slugs in the sea too, but most of the 
marine mollusks are provided with strong shells, and 
it is the purpose of this book to describe them. 

We understand that the first object of these shells 
is the protection of the creatures that carry them 
around, and it is exceedingly interesting to see how 
well they are adapted to this purpose. But as we 
wear clothes that are supposed to be somewhat orna- 
mental as well as useful, and as we paint and deco- 
rate our houses, so many mollusks build very gor- 
geous coverings for their bodies, though it is true 
that much of the beauty does not appear until after 
the death of the humble builder. Of course we know 
very little about the motives which impel these crea- 
tures to construct their shells, and we can only fall 
back on. that old word "instinct," which has received 
so many different explanations. Perhaps we cannot 
do better than to call it the guiding influence of the 
great Creative Power that controls all nature. 

The material of which shells are made is carbonate 
of lime, the basis of all limestone, chalk and marble. 
This substance is very widely distributed, though 
in some soils and some rivers it is far more abundant 
than in others. For this reason land and river shells 



LAMP-SHELLS AND THEIR ALLIES 11 

are more common and more heavy in limestone re- 
gions than in those provinces where lime is deficient 
in quantity. Most rivers are constantly carrying 
dissolved limestone to the sea, where it is used not 
only by mollusks for the making of their shells, but 
also in vast quantities by coral animals, crabs, worms, 
and many other creatures, as well as by certain forms 
of plants. By geological changes the coral reefs and 
shell banks may be lifted out of water and trans- 
formed again into beds of limestone. 

Naturalists do not wholly agree as to the limits 
which divide the great class of mollusks from other 
animals. Some of the lowest of these creatures have 
affinities with the worms and the sea-bottles, but 
these matters may be studied more fully by those 
who are specially interested in the subject. For the 
present we may assume the usual division to be cor- 
rect, and will describe the shells to be found on the 
seacoast under four heads, namely, the lamp-shells, 
the bivalves, the sea-snails and the cuttles, of which 
the second and third divisions include the vast ma- 
jority of specimens. In fresh water lakes and rivers 
there are bivalves and pond-snails, but no lamp- 
shells or cuttles, while on the land are found only 
air-breathing snails and slugs. Thus we see that 
the first and last of the four great divisions are con- 
fined to the ocean, the second to water either salt or 
fresh, while the snails, also called univalves, are the 
most widely distributed of all, living alike in air, 
fresh water, and also in the sea. 

To be sure the same animal cannot endure a 
change from one medium to another, and a trained 



12 WEST COAST SHELLS 

shell-man, or conchologist, as he is often called, can 
quickly tell even from a dead shell the probable sur- 
roundings of its dwelling-place. A novice may 
make mistakes, even in collecting, for often land 
shells get washed into rivers and even into the ocean, 
and may be found where they did not grow ; but all 
this is to be expected and guarded against in the study 
of shells. The real test is to find the animals that 
make the shells living at home and in natural condi- 
tions, and then you are sure that they are where they 
ought to be. And so if you find banks of oyster- 
shells attached to rocks on some hillside you may 
rightly infer that that part of the country was once 
under the sea, and not that in olden times oysters 
went off on picnics to the mountains. 

Sometimes dead shells are found washed up on 
a beach a long way from the place where they lived, 
having been brought in a ship's ballast and cast 
overboard or else scattered from some collection. 
I once had a shell brought to me for identification 
which the hnder declared he picked up on the Cali- 
fornia coast, though I am certain that its home was 
in the Atlantic Ocean. Doubtless he was truthful 
in his statement, but as the shell was dead the proba- 
bility was great that some one had accidentally or 
willfully dropped a foreign shell in the water far 
from its original home and that the waves had 
washed it up along with many native shells. If it 
had been alive the case would have been different. 
In a much greater degree it is unsafe to buy shells 
in stores along the seaside with the thought that 
therefore they are certainly natives of that coast. 



LAMP-SHELLS AND THEIR ALLIES 



13 



Most shells that are sold in stores come from the 
warm waters of the tropics where they grow more 
abundantly than along cooler coasts, and as a rule 
they are of a more attractive appearance and have 
brighter colors than their neighbors which are ex- 
posed to a more wintry climate. And so it happens 
that though certain species of native shells may be 
on sale, it is always best to consult some one who 
knows before deciding upon the native locality of 
any shell. In far Alaska I once bought a shell as a 
native rarity, and afterwards found out that it was 
really a Mexican species that had been carried to 
that land, to sell to tourists. A little familiarity 
with the shells of a coast will often give one a 
pretty sure sense of what he ought to expect to 
find there and will put him upon his guard against 
imported novelties. And now, having given these 
warnings against possible deceptions, let us turn to 
the description of the chief species of shells which 
are known to be true inhabitants of the territory 
under consideration. 

There are on our northern Pacific coast only a 
few species of Lamp-shells, or 
Brachiopods, as they are called 
in the books. Figure l repre- 
sents the Snake' s-head Lamp- 
shell, < T ' erebratulina caput-ser- 
pentis, Linn. You note that 
the fraction 4 A is placed under 
the figure; this implies that 
its length and breadth are one- 
third too great. Sometimes a 




* By permission, from Proceedings of United Stales National Museum. 



14 WEST COAST SHELLS 

figure is too small instead of too large, but the 
proper fraction will inform you of that fact. If 
there is no fraction you will take it for granted that 
the figure is the same size as an ordinary shell of 
that particular species. You notice that after the 
name of the shell there is given the authority, as it 
is called. In this case the abbreviation "Linn." 
stands for Linne, or Linnaeus, according to the Latin 
form of his name. He was the man who gave the 
name, "caput-serpentis," to this species, and pub- 
lished a description of the same. And so all through 
the book you will find the authority after each name. 
If you wish to know something about the men who 
named the shells you will find short accounts of 
their lives in the latter part of this book. After 
reading these short accounts you may wish to consult 
larger books of reference and learn more about them. 
You will also find other helpful lists and tables in 
the latter part of this volume. 

The Snake's-head is not a common shell, but is 
chiefly obtained by dredging, sometimes from the 
depth of half a mile. This species is found in north- 
ern waters, both of the Atlantic and the Pacific, and 
it also occurs as a fossil in the rocks of Europe. 
Externally the shell is ash colored. 

Figure 2 represents the Kii Lamp-shell, ^erebratu- 
lina kiiensis, Dall and Pilsbry. It is so called be- 
cause it was named from specimens gathered on the 
coast of the province of Kii, in Japan. It is a large 
shell, the picture being about the natural size of a 
mature specimen. The lower figure gives an end 
view, showing its plumpness. This species as well 



LAMP-SHELLS AND THEIR ALLIES 



15 



as the last lives in the sea 
where the water is cold 
and deep. It has a very 
wide range, extending 
from off Santa Cruz, 
Cal., up past Alaska and 
down to the Philippine 
Islands. The color is 
waxen white, with stains 
of brown. 

Platidea anominoides, 
Sacchi, the Little Lamp- 
shell, is not much larger 
than the head of a good 
sized pin. It is quite flat, 
without distinct sculptur- 
ing, circular in outline, 





Fig.2(*) 

and light brown in color, but 
it has a distinctive hole in one 
valve. My specimens came 
from San Pedro Bay, and 
ived under 600 feet of sea- 
water. This species is also 



Fi. g .3(*) found In the 

Sea and other parts of the 
ocean. 

We have in Figures 3 and 
4 two views of another brachi- 
opod, *$ erebratalia bcciden- 
talis, Dall, the Western Lamp- 
shell. The figures are of the 
natural size, as is indicated by 



Mediterranean 




Fig. « (*) 



16 



WEST COAST SHELLS 




the omission of a fraction. This shell is not a com- 
mon one, but is reported as occurring from Mon- 
terey southward. The groundwork of the shell is 
white, and there are ribs of carmine. 

The appearance of 'fere- 
brat alia transversa, Sby., the 
Red Lamp-shell, is well 
shown in Figures 5 and 6. 
It is by far the most common 
species of the brachiopods to 
Fig - 5 ' x ' ( * } be found on our coasts. It 

attains its highest development in the cool waters 
of Puget Sound, where it sometimes grows to a size 
much larger than that of the picture. On the east 
side of Vancouver Island it 
is reported to be found in 
thousands, attached to the 
rocks. From that point it 
extends both northward and Fie - 6 > x J ( * ; 

southward, having been found from the frozen Aleu- 
tian Islands of the Arctic to the sub-tropical Cata- 
lina Island of California. It can sometimes be col- 
lected about San Pedro at very low tide. Note that 
the central scallop on the edge dips downward in 
this shell, while in the last species it bends upward. 
The general color is red, though in some specimens 
a considerable part of the shell is white. It makes 
a very pretty specimen for the cabinet. 

Laqueus calif ornicus, Koch, the California Lamp- 
shell, Figure 7, is entirely different from the last 
species, the shell being very thin, smooth, and free 
from wrinkles of any kind. If you turn the figure 





LAMP-SHELLS AND THEIR ALLIES 17 

on its side you can readily see 
why these shells have been com- 
pared to the ancient lamps, such 
as are dug out of the ruins of 
Pompeii and other Roman cities. 
The large valve of the shell an- 
swers to the bowl of the lamp, 
and at the end is a small hole as 
if for the wick. Through this 
hole really runs a strong stem, 
by which the animal is firmly at- 
tached to the rock or some other Fig. 7 
anchorage. The hole in this shell, however, is very 
small when compared with that shown in the last 
figure. The color is reddish, at least in large speci- 
mens, though some of the little ones are brown. 
Rich markings of a deeper color sometimes seem to 
show through the shell. Most of the specimens are 
obtained by dredging or from fishermen's nets, and 
sometimes a whole cluster is pulled up, all of them 
attached to some old shell, and looking like a bunch 
of plums. They are mostly collected in the vicinity 
of the Santa Barbara Channel, though they extend 
northward at least to Monterey Bay. 

Laqueus Jeffreys!, Dall, Jeffrey's Lamp-shell, re- 
sembles the last species, but lacks the rich, warm, 
reddish tints. The shell is heavier, browner, and 
the foramen, or opening, is larger. It is found 
farther to the north, and was once called the Van- 
couver variety of the last species. They exist side 
by side, however, off the coast of California. 

Frieleia halli, Dall, the Parrot Lamp-shell, is a 



IS 



WEST COAST SHELLS 




Fig. 8, x 1 (*) 



small brachiopod, which has been 
dredged from deep water at vari- 
ous stations along the coast. Fig- 
ure 8 shows several views of this 
little shell, which is thin, trans- 
lucent, and of a yellowish-gray 
color. 

It is hard for us, who live in 
the air and the bright sunshine, to 
imagine the conditions at the bot- 
tom of the ocean, where these 
creatures have their home. In the 
first place, it is very cold down 
there, the temperature of the 
water being but little above the freezing point. This 
has been proved by sinking self-registering ther- 
mometers and pulling them up again. It is very 
dark, too, for how can much light struggle down 
through thousands of feet of water, even if it is 
remarkably clear. There is but little motion, tor 
the swell of the waves is all far above, and the slow 
drift of ocean currents makes but little impression 
on the oozy bed of the sea. Dark, cold, still, with- 
out morning or noon, only a gloomy night; how 
dismal it seems to us who live on the merry sur- 
face of the earth. And yet, countless generations 
of these quiet creatures have apparently lived in 
comfort down in the depths of the sea. Verily, the 
study of any kind of life ought to broaden and 
deepen our ideas of the actual and the possible, and 
to show us that our mode of living, splendid though 




LAMP-SHELLS AND THEIR ALLIES 19 

it may be, is not the only opportunity for healthful 
existence. 

The last member of the brachiopod family to be 
described is closely related to some of the shells 
which are found in the oldest of the fossil- 
iferous rocks. Perhaps, therefore, it has a 
pedigree reaching back farther than that of 
any other shell in the world. Its name is 
Glottidea albida, Hinds, the White Tongue- 
shell, and it is shown in Figure 9. It has 
been collected at Monterey, and it extends 
to the shores of Lower California. I once 
gathered a few specimens from the mud Flg ' 9 
flats of San Pedro, which were left bare by a low 
tide. A friend instructed me to dig where I saw 
little narrow slits in the surface of the mud. I 
obeyed, and found that the little creatures were 
buried in holes, the tips of the shells being just be- 
neath the surface. A fleshy stem, longer than the 
shell, reached down into the mud, and served as an 
anchor. In the picture you can see the remnant of 
the stem, curled and dry. When the tide returned, 
I dare say the creatures rose a little and began gath- 
ering minute particles of food from the water. The 
shells are smooth, thin, and when freshly gathered 
are more brown than white. Exposed shells, how- 
ever, soon bleach. Unfortunately for shell-gatherers, 
the old collecting grounds at San Pedro have been 
largely spoiled by the dredging operations by which 
the shallow bay is being made into a good harbor 
for ships. 

In olden times the lamp-shells were more abun- 



20 WEST COAST SHELLS 

dant than they are at present. In some parts of 
our country great masses of rock may be found which 
are made up almost entirely of these fossil shells. 
But now it is different, and so we turn to another 
class of animals, which seem to be in their full glory 
at the present time. Where we had only half a 
dozen species of lamp-shells to describe, we shall 
rind more than a hundred of the bivalves to claim 
our attention. 

We call them bivalves because each animal is pro- 
tected by two valves, or half shells, which are hinged 
together at the top and which open somewhat at the 
bottom. Clams, oysters, scallops, and cockles all 
belong to this division of the mollusks. Their real 
name is Pelecypods, which means hatchet-footed 
creatures, since many of them have a burrowing 
organ, or foot, as it used to be called, shaped some- 
what like the blade of a hatchet. To be sure some 
use this foot to jump with, and others modify it into 
a kind of finger, and still others have no foot at all 
to speak of, and yet, in their organism they all show 
many signs of resemblance and all have the two 
shells, a right and a left valve. None of them are 
blessed with a head, a lack of which organ any of 
us would find very embarrassing; but not so our 
happy clam, for never having possessed a head he 
feels no use for one. 

So he digs a burrow with his hatchet-shaped foot 
and pulls himself down into it and feels reasonably 
safe. To be sure he needs food and some kind of 
breath, but he is so wonderfully made that he has 
little trouble in obtaining either, for in fact they 



LAMP-SHELLS AND THEIR ALLIES 21 

come together. He has two tubes, or siphons, as 
they are called, which he pushes up through the bur- 
row to the surface of the sand or mud, and then 
opens them out in the clear water above. Then he 
starts his pump, which is a double-action affair, and 
the work begins. Water is sucked down one pipe 
and forced up the other, and with the water come 
organic particles for food and dissolved air for 
breath. His wonderful gills absorb the latter and 
gather up the former, which they pass on to the 
mouth that is waiting to receive the nourishment. 

When the tide goes out and the sand is left bare, 
our happy clam has just to wait, that is all. But if 
you walk along over his hole he may become startled 
by your footstep and suddenly pull down his siphons 
into his shell. As they are full of water, the result 
will be a little fountain which you will see spouting 
up for an instant and then disappearing. If you 
have a hoe or a shovel you may now dig the poor 
fellow out of his revealed burrow, and his fancied 
security will prove vain; but if he is a large clam 
his burrow may be too deep to be easily explored, 
and if he is lively he may dig too. 

If you pick up a dead shell and look inside one 
of the valves you may see that it is marked some- 
what like Figure 57, on a later page, except the 
letters will not be there to guide you. The line p. 1. 
is called the pallial line, because the pallium, or 
mantle, or skin of the animal is attached to the 
shell along this line. If the creature lives deep in the 
mud and has long siphons there will be quite a notch 
at p. s., which stands for pallial sinus. A sinus is 



22 WEST COAST SHELLS 

a gulf, or bay. If the creature simply lives on the 
surface of the mud, or is only partly buried in the 
sandy bottom, he will have no need for long pipes, 
and the pallial sinus will be omitted. 

The two big scars marked a and a' show where 
the adductor muscles are grown to the shell. These 
muscles are strong affairs, and enable the creature 
to close his doors with a snap and to hold them 
closed against most intruders. Sometimes there is 
but one adductor, as in the oyster, and then it is situ- 
ated near the center of the shell. But when the clam 
or the oyster shuts his shell he is obliged to stretch 
a thick, heavy spring, which, when it is wet, resem- 
bles rubber; though it gets brittle when it is dry. 
This spring is marked "1" in the picture, which 
stands for ligament. In some species the ligament is 
internal instead of external, and in such cases it is 
compressed instead of lengthened, when the clam 
closes his shells. In either case the elastic ligament 
opens the valves as soon as the muscles become re- 
laxed, either by the will of the clam or by his death, 
for dead shells are nearly always open. 

The ligament also serves to keep the two valves 
from falling apart, and beside it there are more or 
less hinge-teeth for the same purpose. The lateral 
tooth is marked "1. t." in the picture, while the three 
cardinal teeth are situated just below the umbo, 
which is marked "u." One more mark, namely, 
"lu," signifies lunule. This is a heart-shaped depres- 
sion on the outside of the shell, half in each valve, 
and is seen best when you look at the end of the shell, 
as in Figure 54. 



LAMP-SHELLS AND THEIR ALLIES 23 

It is interesting to capture a healthy clam and put 
him in a jar of sea-water with a thick bed of sand 
at the bottom, and see him adjust himself to the 
changed conditions. He digs with his foot, and he 
pumps water through his siphons. His pumps, how- 
ever, are invisible, for in reality they consist of in- 
numerable little lashing hairs, or cilia, covering the 
surface of the gills. A bit of gill may be snipped 
off from a freshly-opened oyster or clam and placed 
in a drop of sea-water under a microscope, and the 
movement can be plainly observed. 

Although the clam has no head, the part which 
goes down into the burrow first is called the front 
end, and the siphons always follow. In the dead 
shell the pallial sinus is therefore always at the pos- 
terior end. When a shell is in position for describ- 
ing, as in the figure, the ligament is at the top. It 
is easy to see that Figure 57 represents a left-hand 
valve, for the position of the sinus is plain. 

In describing the shells of the pelecypods we shall 
have occasion to call attention to all of these fea- 
tures, also to the epidermis, or periostracum, which 
is a kind of horny covering on the outside of the 
shell that is found in some species. It is secreted 
by the mantle, somewhat as the shell is formed, but 
is composed of a horny material and contains very 
little lime, while the shell proper contains a great 
deal. With these simple explanations we will pass 
on to a description of the species, leaving a fuller 
account of the anatomy of the animal to the numer- 
ous excellent books on zoology. 

The first shell of this great class that we are to 



24 



WEST COAST SHELLS 



consider is one that very 
few of us will ever collect, 
for it lives in the ocean 
where the water is very 
deep, from one to two 
miles being recorded by 
the steamship "Albatross" 
at some of the stations 
where it was dredged. A 
slightly diminished view 
is shown in Figure 10. Its 
name is Solemya johnsoni, 
Dall, which may be trans- 
lated into English as John- 
son's Solemya. It is a 
singular shell, with fingers 
of epidermis reaching out 
nearly an inch beyond the 
edge of the firm portion, 
as is shown in the figure. 
The whole shell is about 
four and a half inches 
long. It has been dredged from deep water off vari- 
ous parts of the coast as far north as Puget Sound. 
The next shell on our list is named Nucula cas- 
trensis, Hinds, the Camp Nut-shell. It is well 
named, for the shell resembles a three-cornered, dark 
brown nut, while its sides have sculptured markings, 
reminding one of many steep-walled tents. Inter- 
nally it is beautifully pearly, and it has about seven 
little hinge-teeth on each side. The whole shell is 
wedge-shaped, and is about as large as a good sized 




Fig. 10, 



(*) 



LAMP-SHELLS AND THEIR ALLIES 25 

pea, though it sometimes grows a little larger. This 
species is seldom found on the shore, but a large 
number were dredged off the southern coast of Cali- 
fornia a few years ago. The shells are sometimes 
thickly coated with fine mud. It has also been 
found in Puget Sound, and even farther to the 
northward. 

Nucula suprastriata, Cpr., the Fine-lined Nut- 
shell, has a much smaller shell, and the sculptured 
lines are concentric, instead of forming angles. It 
probably lives within about the same limits as the 
last species. The abbreviation cc Cpr.," printed after 
the name of the shell, shows that its name was given 
by that great naturalist, Dr. Philip P. Carpenter, 
who lived a generation ago. Let me remind you 
again that near the close of this book you will find 
a brief biographical list of the principal men whose 
names or initials are appended to the Latin names 
of the species. It is a goodly list, and is worthy of 
being read by every young person who wishes to 
honor those who have done so much to make our 
present knowledge possible. It makes our shells 
seem more alive and interesting if we know who 
studied them and gave them their names. 

Nucula tenuis, var. lurida, Gould, the Thin Nut- 
shell, is the common species found in moderate 
depths about Alaska, and in deeper waters farther 
south. It has also been known as TV. expansa, Rve. 

Nucula carlottensis, Dall, the Charlotte Nut-shell, 
is a small species only six mm. long, and was dredged 
from deep water off Queen Charlotte's Islands by 
the U. S. Steamer "Albatross." It has been con- 



26 WEST COAST SHELLS 

founded with N. exigua, Sby., which is a Panama 
shell, smaller, more inflated, and with less conspicu- 
ous sculpture. There are a few other species of 
Nucula to which names have been given, but they 
are uncommon and difficult to determine, and it 
does not seem wise to give them here. The purpose 
of this book is to describe all of the species which 
the ordinary collector will be likely to find, as well 
as most of the conspicuous rare shells. In due time 
it is hoped that an official book will be published 
by the National Museum, giving a complete list of 
all the species that have ever been collected on this 
coast, with the limits of their locations. The diffi- 
culties of making a complete book of this kind are 
very great, however, especially since so many species 
have received different names at various times, and 
only the best informed naturalists are competent to 
decide which should be retained as the true ones. 

Figure 1 1 represents Leda ha- 

mata, Cpr., the Hooked Leda, 

though the picture is nearly three 

times as long as the real shell, as is 

indicated by the fraction. The 

shell is compressed and is of a dark chestnut-brown 

color. The specimen was obtained by dredging near 

Catalina Island, in about 300 feet of water. 

Another species, considerably larger than the last, 
but not quite so long as the figure, is Leda taphria, 
Dall, the Grooved Leda. The name is taken from 
the Greek, and indicates that the shell is full of 
ditches or furrows. The shell is as round as a fat 
bean, and there are more grooves on the sides than 




LAMP-SHELLS AND THEIR ALLIES 27 

in Figure 11, as might be expected by the name, 
but the narrow end of the shell is much shorter. 
The specimens in my cabinet were obtained from 
San Pedro Bay. 

At this point it may be well to explain just 
what is meant by the locations designated as 
"north" and "south," also the adjectives "northern" 
and "southern." 

Beginning at the southwestern corner of the 
United States, the Pacific Ocean forms the western 
boundary of California, Oregon, Washington, Brit- 
ish Columbia, and Alaska. At San Diego and San 
Pedro, which lie on the coast of the southern part of 
California, the water is nearly as warm as it is off 
the coast of northern Mexico. Near Point Concep- 
cion there is a decided change in the temperature, 
and many species of mollusks which are freely found 
farther south are seldom seen north of that angle in 
the coast line. 

The remaining part of the coast of California, 
together with that of Oregon and southern Washing- 
ton, forms a "central" region; while Puget Sound 
and the adjoining waters may be spoken of as the 
northern region, or simply as the north. The 
Alaskan waters are still colder, and have their own 
inhabitants. By the "south," or "southern" Cali- 
fornia, we refer to the coast south of Point Concep- 
cion, and not to any specific section of the State. 
The "north" refers to the cooler waters along the 
coast of northern Washington and Vancouver Island, 
while still more northern coasts are designated as 
"Alaskan," 




28 WEST COAST SHELLS 

The genus Toldia resembles Leda in many re- 
spects, but the shells are generally larger and the 
posterior end is not so prolonged or distinctly 
marked. The hinge-teeth are V-shaped and numer- 
ous, sometimes numbering 20 or more on a side. 
There are a good many species found along our 
coast, but most of them live at a considerable depth, 
or in the cold waters of the north. 

The largest species is 
named Toldia coo peri, 
Gabb, Cooper's Yoldia, 
and sometimes it grows to 
a length of two or three 
inches. The general shape 
Fig. 12, x § is shown in Figure 12. 

The shell is thin and com- 
pressed, while the hinge-teeth are very numerous, 
there being about 12 in front and 40 or 50 behind. 
The surface has distinct concentric ridges. It is 
found as a fossil at San Pedro, and alive off the coast 
of central California. 

Toldia montereyensis, Dall, the Monterey Yol- 
dia, has a length of 32 mm. It was dredged in Mon- 
terey Bay, from mud where the water was nearly 
half a mile deep. The hinge-teeth are about 20 in 
number on each side, and the epidermis is green. 
The genus Malletia resembles Toldia, but the 
ligament is external, elongated, and prominent, 
while in Toldia it is slight. Malletia faba, Dall, 
the Bean Malletia, has an elegant little shell, nearly 
an inch long. It is smooth, ovate, inflated, with a 



LAMP-SHELLS AND THEIR ALLIES 29 

polished epidermis. It has been dredged from deep 
water off the coast in various places from British 
Columbia to San Diego. 

The Arcidae, though very abundant in some parts 
of the world, are but poorly represented on this 
coast. In general they prefer warmer waters, being 
especially common on the coast of Florida. The 
Arks, as they are called, have a great number of 
small hinge-teeth which are alike in shape, and taken 
together they resemble a comb. The shells are gen- 
erally strong and well developed. 

Area reticulata, Gmel., the Cross-lined Ark, is 
very small, and has been found from San Pedro 
southward. Area ?nutabilis, Sby., and Area multi- 
eostata, Sby., are occasionally found at San Pedro 
and vicinity, though really belonging to the fauna 
of Mexico. 

Glyeymeris intermedia, Brod., the Medium Ark- 
shell, is round, like a button, and is about half an 
inch across. The shell is solid and white, though 
tinged with brown, and is marked with many small, 
transverse hinge-teeth. It was formerly called Axi- 
nea intermedia. 

Figures 13 and 14 represent the outside and inside 
of a remarkable shell from northern Alaska. As it 
was dredged from pretty deep water, it is probable 
that very few of my readers will ever see a specimen ; 
but it is well to know about some ot the rare forms 
that live in the sea, even if we never have the privil- 
ege of seeing them. The brown epidermis is densely 
hairy and the margin of the shell is curiously bent. 



30 



WEST COAST SHELLS 




making a deep pit be- 
hind the hinge. The 
name is Limopsis va- 
ginata, Dall, and we 
will call it the Beard- 
ed Ark-shell. 

A remarkable new 
shell was obtained a 
few years ago by some 
fishermen who were 

. . . . . . Fig. 13, x * (*) 

pursuing their calling 

on the waters of San 

Pedro Bay. From a 
depth of 25 fathoms 
they hauled up a liv- 
ing specimen of a 
large shell, such as 
had not been seen 
there before, or at 
least had never been 
described. It was sent 
by two enthusiastic 
conchologists to Washington, where it was named by 
Dr. Dall Atrina oldroydii, Oldroyd's Pinna. There 
are two large, dark valves, some nine inches long, 
broad above and pointed at one end. Externally it 
is almost black, but the inside is a dark olive-gray, 
with some iridescence. It is the first Pinna ever 
found in this part of the ocean, though in some 
other parts of the world these large, thin "feather- 
shells" are common enough. One or two other speci- 




Fig. 14, x i (*) 



LAMP-SHELLS AND THEIR ALLIES 31 

mens have been reported recently, and if we could 
go down into the depths we might find them quite 
common in favored spots. 

From a very large shell we turn to a very small 
one, only one-eighth of an inch in length. It is 
white, oval, and shaped like a minute Pinna. It is 
named Philobrya setosa, Cpr., the Moss-lover. It 
occurs from Santa Barbara southward. 



CHAPTER II 



MUSSELS AND PECTENS 



The great family of the Mussels have elongated, 
dark-colored shells, and most of them spin a byssus 
of strong threads by which they anchor themselves 
to a place of safety. Where the waves dash over the 
rocks and the white foam curls like flowing milk, 
there the mussels love to make their home. Moored 
by their strong cables they enjoy the rush of air and 
water and fear no danger. 

The principal species on our coast is named 
Mytilus calif ornianus, Conr., the 
California Mussel. A very good 
picture of an empty shell is 
given in Figure 15. This spe- 
cies can be easily distinguished 
from other mussels by its con- 
spicuous ribs, which are never 
wholly absent, particularly on 
the newest parts of the shell. 
The beaks of old specimens are 
apt to be much eroded, but the 
growing edge is protected by a 
glossy epidermis. The general 
color of the shell is purple, 
though the thicker parts of it 
are white, and sometimes there 
Fi g . i5, x 1 are streaks of brown, which har- 




MUSSELS AND PECTENS 33 

monize remarkably well with the purple. Occasion- 
ally a very large and perfect specimen is polished 
on a lapidary's wheel, and the result is remarkably 
pretty. But far more often we see Nature's method 
of bringing out the colors. If you find a little beach 
near a mussel ledge you will notice that the sand 
contains unnumbered bits of blue and white and 
brown, all bright and polished, and forming the most 
lovely bed of gaily colored gravel imaginable. If 
you examine the pieces you will find that most of 
them are nothing but broken mussel-shell, and you 
will admire the bright colors that blend so perfectly. 
And while we are speaking of colors, let me ask you 
to observe the combinations all along the rim of the 
ocean. What soft tints of olive green in the sea- 
weeds, enlivened by the brilliant red of a starfish or 
the bright emerald of a frill of Ulva. How beauti- 
fully they harmonize with the gray of the rocks and 
the blue of the sea and the sky. What fertile sugges- 
tions for an artist who is seeking new patterns for 
a fabric or a carpet. 

But to return to our mussel, the flesh of which is. 
bright orange-colored. Its shell was one of the first 
from our coast that received attention in Europe. In 
1789 Captain George Dixon published an account of 
his voyage around the world, and he speaks of find- 
ing this species on the northwest coast of America in 
these words: 

"We saw, also, on this coast a kind of mussel, in color and 
shape much like the common edible mussel of Europe, but dif- 
fered in being circularly wrinkled and a great deal larger. One 
valve I saw at Queen Charlotte's Islands measured above nine 



34 WEST COAST SHELLS 

inches and a half in length. With pieces of these mussels, 
sharpened to an exquisite edge and point, the Indians head their 
harpoons and other instruments for fishing; they fasten them on 
with a kind of resinous substance." 

Mytilus edulis, Linn., the Edible Mussel, is the 
same species that is found on both shores of the 
Atlantic. The shell is smooth and regular, and is 
covered with a dark, glossy epidermis. The shell of 
this species is smaller than that of the last, and it 
is more often found living in quiet water. In San 
Francisco Bay a variety, glomeratus, Gld., is found 
clinging in large groups to posts and wharves. Its 
length is seldom more than two inches. It is one of 
the few mollusks commonly found for sale in the 
San Francisco markets. 

There is another mussel, found chiefly in the south, 
concerning which there has been much discussion. In 
a former volume it was called Mytilus bifurcatus, 
Conr., but it seems to have been confounded with 
another shell of the same name. In 1898 it was 
renamed Mytilus stearnsi, Pils. & Raym., Stearns' 
Mussel, in honor of the late veteran conchologist of 
this coast, .Dr. Robert E. C. Stearns, and by this 
name we trust that it will continue to be known. 
Externally it greatly resembles Figure 16, though 
it is usually considerably smaller. Internally it may 
be distinguished from a Septifer by the 
absence of a deck across the point of the 
umbo. 

Figure 16 is a good picture of the little 

shell which resembles the one referred to 

above. Its name is Septifer bifurcatus^ 

Figgis Rve, the Branch-ribbed Septifer. Its gen- 




MUSSELS AND PECTENS 35 

eric name signifies that it is a partition-bearer, and it 
was given on account of the fact that a little shelly 
deck is stretched across a small part of the interior 
of each valve, near the umbo. The shell itself is 
strong, has a thick, dark epidermis, and is very 
pearly within, where the color varies from white to 
dark purple. Outside, the ribs increase in number 
towards the edge of the shell, sometimes seeming to 
actually fork into two. Sometimes the outside is 
exceedingly eroded, and almost all signs of ribs dis- 
appear, or the surface may become incrusted with 
foreign substances. The Septifer spins a strong 
byssus and attaches itself to stones, where it may 
dwell in safety. Occasionally a specimen is found 
which is nearly twice as long as the picture. On the 
whole, this is a very interesting shell, and it should 
be sought for, especially in the south. 

Closely allied to the common mussels is another 
group of shells which for some reason are popularly 
known as "Horse-mussels." The true name is Modio- 
lus, which means a little measure, or drinking cup. 
They are usually more solitary in their habits than 
the true mussels, and they often spin a kind of cover- 
ing, filled with bits of broken shells. Some of them 
live in the mud, with only a small part of the shell 
above the surface. In all of these shells the umbo 
is not the extreme point, as in the mussels, but a part 
of the shell projects by the hinge, forming a rounded 
lobe. 

Of the species found on this coast there is first 
Modiolus modiolus, Linn., the Great Horse-mussel, 
most abundant in northern waters. In Puget Sound 



36 



WEST COAST SHELLS 



there have been found specimens nine inches long 
and four inches in diameter, standing perpendicu- 
larly in the mud. The epidermis is roughly bearded 
near the edge of the shell, while the buried parts are 
strongly eroded. The Horse-mussels usually grow 
rapidly. 

Modiolus capax, Conr., is a similar species from 
the south, though I have grave doubts whether it is 
really distinct from the last species. I have gathered 
them abundantly about San Pedro. When the epi- 
dermis peels off from the outside of the shell the 
latter often appears of a brick-red color. 

Modiolus rectus, Conr., the 
Straight Horse-mussel, is shown in 
Figure 17. The shell is long and 
narrow, thin and delicate. The epi- 
dermis near the hinge end is dark 
brown and glossy; in front it is light 
brown, with numerous chaffy hairs; 
internally the shell is white. The 
common length is three or four 
inches, but a variety, flabellus, Gld., 
found on the shores of British Co- 
lumbia and in deep water off the 
coast of California, grows to a much 
larger size. 

Modiolus fornicatus, Gld., the 
Arched Horse-mussel, has a very 
short and full shell, somewhat 
wedge-shaped, having a breadth 
more than half of its length. The naked shell is 
white, though somewhat tinted, and it is normally 




Fig. 17 



MUSSELS AND PECTENS 37 

covered with a light brown epidermis, especially near 
the edges. This shell is sometimes found solitary, 
but at other times in large masses, grouped around 
the base of a seaweed, or in some similarly protected 
situation. The common length is about an inch. 

Modiolus plicatulus, Lam., the Plaited Horse- 
mussel, is really an Atlantic species, being extremely 
abundant in sheltered bays around the city of Bos- 
ton. It doubtless came to California with seed 
oysters, which were planted in San Francisco Bay, 
where it may now be found in considerable numbers, 
and where it may ultimately become as abundant as 
it once was in the celebrated "Back Bay" of Boston, 
a place now converted into solid ground and covered 
with fine streets and elegant buildings. It has a 
rather pretty shell, about two inches long, covered 
with a glossy epidermis. It is marked with a great 
number of small but very distinct plaits or ribs, 
radiating forward from the umbo. The ligament is 
long and strong, and the interior of the shell is tinted 
with purple. 

It is ex- 
tremely in- 
teresting to 

° Fig. 18 

note the 

different habits which members of the same family 
now possess, and which they may have acquired long 
ago and passed down to posterity. The long, singu- 
lar shell shown in Figure 18 is evidently a kind oi 
mussel, but its owner prefers a safe, sheltered retreat 
to a mere anchoring place on the side of a wave-swept 
cliff. The name of this species is Adula falcata, did.. 




38 WEST COAST SHELLS 

the Pea-pod Shell. Among the difficult things to 
explain is the fact that a mollusk with a thin and 
flexible shell can bore a deep hole into hard rock. 
But this creature does it, for I found the rocks of 
Duxbury Reef at Bolinas almost alive with this and 
other borers. It spins a byssus, too, like other mus- 
sels, and attaches itself to the sides of its burrow, 
though this would seem to be an unnecessary bit of 
precaution, inherited from the time when its ances- 
tors lived in more exposed situations. The figure 
represents a rather large specimen. The inside of the 
shell is white and pearly, while the outside is covered 
with a dark chestnut epidermis, which has numerous 
transverse wrinkles. 

Adula stylina, Cpr., the Short Adula, is smaller, 
shorter, and has very angular shells, with a brown 
epidermis destitute of distinct wrinkles. 

Lithophagus plumula, Hani., the Rock-eating 
Mussel, has a small, cylindrical shell, rounded in front 
and tapering behind. It constructs a burrow sometimes 
in rocks and sometimes in old shells. It has a light 
brown epidermis, and is an inch or two in length. 

Modiolaria taylori, Dall, Taylor's Modiolaria, is 
a little creature hardly a quarter of an inch long, but 
shaped like a true Modiolus. It was found in tide- 
pools, at Victoria, B. C, by Rev. G. W. Taylor. 

Modiolaria vernicosa, Midd., the Varnished Mo- 
diolaria, has an oval shell, with beaks near one end. 
It is smooth, reddish-brown, and has a brilliantly 
polished epidermis. Its length is 15 mm. It is found 
in Alaska, where there are other species of the same 
genus, which we will not now describe, 



MUSSELS AND PECTENS 



39 



Crenella decussata, Montagu, the Netted Crenella, 
is a little affair, about 3 mm. long, which is circum- 
boreal in its range. The valves are rounded and 
marked by numerous radiating ribs. The edge of the 
shell is crenulated behind the ligament area. While 
it is sometimes found in San Pedro Bay its true home 
is in the north, where several allied species are also 
found. 

The Pectens, or 
Scallop-shells, 
are among the 
most pleasing 
mollusks to be 
found in the 
ocean. Of regu- 
lar shape, bright- 
ly colored and 
finely sculptured, 
it is no wonder 
that their shells 
have been imita- 
ted in all sorts of 
carved work. And 

if one is fortunate enough to become acquainted with 
a live specimen, he will be abundantly rewarded by 
watching its interesting habits. We have a good 
many species on this coast, some of which arc not 
too distinct from one another. 

The first in importance is Pecten circularise \ .it. 
aequisulcatus, Cpr., the Speckled Pecten, a good view 
of which is given in Figure 19. This species abounds 
in the south, where it may be dredged in large 




Fig. 19 



40 WEST COAST SHELLS 

quantities, though good specimens are often found 
at low tide. This creature can swim freely by 
flapping its broad shells, though it sometimes moors 
itself to a piece of seaweed by spinning a byssus 
with the aid of a singular little organ shaped like 
a finger. You will notice in the picture a little 
notch in the back shell, just under the left "ear," 
through which the little creature thrusts out this 
finger when spinning the threads. In a good speci- 
men you will find that this opening is set with little 
projections, like the teeth of a comb. 

Fee ten caurinus, Gld., the Weather-vane Shell, is 
a species found in the north, which has very broad, 
thin and flat shells, each marked by about twenty 
ribs. The edges are thin, the ears small, and the 
color is white within and light brown without. Its 
diameter is sometimes as much as five or six inches. 

Pecten diegensis, Dall, the San Diego Pecten, 
sometimes grows nearly as large as the last species, 
though it is totally distinct. Its two valves are 
dissimilar, the one being nearly flat, while the other 
is moderately arched. Both have very large and 
distinct ribs, twenty or more in number, with deep 
channels between them. The shells vary in color 
from dark red on the flat side to yellow on the 
curved. It is found living at least as far north as 
Monterey, though as its name indicates, its home is 
in the south. 

Figure 20 represents an exquisitely beautiful spe- 
cies which is essentially a northern, deep-water 
inhabitant, though it is occasionally found quite far 
down the coast. The shell is thin, the ears are very 



MUSSELS AND PECTENS 



41 




Fig. 20 



unequal, and the 
edges of the principal 
ribs are cut into 
many short and slen- 
der teeth. The valves 
differ from each other 
i n sculpturing and 
color, the under one 
having more ribs and 
being nearly white, 
while the upper one 
is richly marked with 
concentric bands of 
pink. Its name is Pecten hericeus, Gld., the Pink 
Pecten. 

It has sometimes been mistaken for Pecten hasta- 
tus, Sby., the Spear Pecten. That name is now 
applied to a similar species, closely allied, found in 
deep water off Southern California, the adult shells 
of which are about one and a half inches across. 
The ten very prominent ribs on the back have long- 
toothed combs, while the colors are very vivid, 
ranging through various tints of red, yellow and 
purple. 

Pecten rubidus, Hinds, the Red Pecten, is from 
the north, and closely resembles the shell shown in 
Figure 20, but the ribs are more smooth and even, 
and are without the serrations so prominently seen 
in that species. 

Pecten latiauritus, Conrad, the Broad-cared Pec- 
ten, is a southern species, about an inch across, hav- 
ing thin valves, with twelve to fifteen squarish. 



42 



WEST COAST SHELLS 




Fig. 21 



distinct ribs. The ears of the shell, by which we 
mean the flattened parts on each side of the umbo, 
are broad and pointed. The color is white and 
brown. 

A variety of this species, known as 
var. monotimeris, Conr., is shown in 
Figure 21. It is sometimes described 
as a distinct species. The shell is 
very thin and delicate, the ribs 
rounded and rather faint, and the 
ears are smaller than in the last form. The colors 
incline to yellow and brown, variously mottled with 
zigzag lines of white. I have found this variety 
living at San Pedro, and at times it is abundant as 
far north as Carmelo Bay, near Monterey. There 
are also several other varieties of this species. 

Fee ten davidsoni, 
Dall, Davidson's Pec- 
ten, is represented in 
Figure 22, the form 
and sculpture of both 
valves being plainly f«. 2* ■**<*> 

shown. The left valve has twenty-one rounded ribs, 
while the right is nearly smooth. The color is waxen 
white. It was dredged from deep water off Alaska, 
and in Bering Sea. Very few of us, probably, will 
ever have a specimen in our cabinets, but how inter- 
esting it is to know what creatures are living at this 
moment on the bottom of that cold ocean far to- 
wards the North Pole. 

Pee ten randolphi, Dall, Randolph's Pecten, was 
obtained by the U. S. Fish Commission from deep 





MUSSELS AND PECTENS 



43 



water at various stations extending from Bering Sea 
to Mexico. The shell is thin, glossy, and unsculp- 
tured, translucent white in color, and measures about 
an inch in diameter. 

Pecten vancouverensis, Whiteaves, the Vancouver 
Pecten, is perhaps the smallest member of the genus 
to be found on our coast. The little shells are only 
5 mm. across, and are very fragile. Form nearly 
circular, ribs fine and numerous, color very light 
brown. It has been collected on the coast of British 
Columbia, also in San Pedro Bay at a depth of two 
hundred fathoms. 

Pecten ventricosus, Sby., the Bulged Pecten, is 
found fossil at San Pedro, and is said to be living 
from Santa Barbara southward. "P. aequisulcatus 
resembles this species very closely, but is thinner 
and flatter and has narrower ribs." (Arnold). 
Diameter, about two inches. 

We now come to a not- 
able species which differs 
from the typical Pectens in 
that the valves become un- 
symmetrical when they be- 
come old. It is called Pec- 
ten giganteus, Gray, the 
Purple-hinged Pecten. It 
belongs to the division of 
the Pecten genus sometimes 
known as Hinnitcs. In its 
early life it is a true little 
fan-shell, with thin, fine- 
ribbed, unequally eared left Fig. 23. x j 




44 WEST COAST SHELLS 

valves, some white, some yellow, and some red, while 
the right valves have about twelve serrated ribs and 
are apt to be mottled in color. When the shell is 
about an inch long a reddish purple spot begins to 
show along the hinge area, inside the valves. The 
spot increases with age, and never fades, though the 
shell may be sadly worn and broken. Fragments 
of shell on the beach show the color distinctly. At 
the same time the little creature quits its free life and 
settles down in some quiet nook, like the inside of 
an old abalone-shell. There it turns over on its left 
side and begins to grow, fastening itself firmly to 
the nook that it has chosen. 

And now, as it is confined, it loses its perfect sym- 
metry and grows in whatever direction it has room, 
sending out short spines and thorns for defense. 
Sometimes it becomes a giant indeed, with thick 
shells four or five inches long; but more often it is 
considerably smaller. The ligament is internal, 
lodged in a deep, narrow pit; the central muscle-scar 
is smooth and very large. Live specimens are not 
common, but dead shells are thrown up all along our 
coast. Figure 23 shows the appearance of a long 
and narrow specimen. 

At this point we will quote, for our younger 
readers, a part of "The Story of the Pecten" from 
the author's "Shells and Sea-Life." 

THE STORY OF THE PECTEN 

"One bright morning in springtime I found myself 
swimming with a number of my brothers and sisters 
in a little pool which had been left among the rocks 






MUSSELS AND PECTENS 45 

when the tide went down. Of course I did not then 
understand that there was such a thing as a tide; 
the only thing that I did know was that I felt happy, 
and that I could snap my two shells together and 
make myself dart off through the water at a great 
rate. 

"After doing this a little while, I felt tired; so I 
just stopped swimming, and found that I slowly set- 
tled down upon some sand which lay at the bottom 
of the pool. Then I opened my shells and looked 
out of the little eyes which are in the margin of my 
mantle. I could not see far, but everything about 
me looked so fresh and cool that I concluded to go 
to sleep for a little while and then wake up and swim 
races with my brothers. 

"I do not know how long I slept, but after a hazy 
dream about nothing, I was awakened by hearing a 
rush of water over my head, or over what you, per- 
haps, would call my head; for to tell the truth, I 
never had a head and never expect to have one. 
But a head is not necessary if one has eyes and ears 
in other parts of his body, as I have. 

"At any rate, I heard a great rushing sound above 
me, and I started up in considerable alarm and began 
to snap my shells vigorously. I was so light and 
agile that my pair of shells served me as well in the 
water as a pair of wings serve a bird in the air; so 
away I flew towards the surface of the water, which 
I soon found was in a state of great commotion. 

"The little cove in which I went to sleep was now 
all covered, and the waves were whirling and tossing 
as if they intended to mix the air and water together 



46 WEST COAST SHELLS 

into a kind of soda-water fizz. I have since learned 
that that was just what they were doing, and that 
1 air-fizz' is just what a great many creatures in the 
sea are particularly fond of, and that they make 
their homes where they will be pretty sure to get 
it fresh at least twice a day. 

"But I soon saw that this place where the waves 
were churning air was no place for me; so with a 
few bold snaps I shot off for deeper water. I was 
none too quick, for just as I had made up my mind 
to move I caught sight of a big-mouthed fish coming 
straight towards me. He doubtless knew that the 
incoming tide would startle a great many helpless 
creatures like myself, and he had come, ready to 
swallow us as we were trying to make our escape. 

"Luckily for me his attention was turned at that 
instant to a fat worm which seemed to be swimming 
just in front of me. His mouth closed on the worm, 
and in an instant more he was shooting upward as 
if he had been pulled by a string, and I never saw 
him again. Perhaps some of you may know why he 
disappeared so suddenly, and can guess what became 
of him. 

"I was dreadfully scared, for there were other 
fishes all about, and I am sure that some of my poor 
brothers did not escape, but I did, and in a few 
moments I was down in the deep water where every- 
thing is quiet and still. 

"That night, before I went to sleep, I spun some 
strong, silky thread with my one finger, and fastened 
myself to the stem of a great seaweed, so that I 
would be safe even if a great storm should arise. 






MUSSELS AND PECTENS 47 

You can see the little notch in one of my shells where 
I put out my finger and made fast my threads. It 
is just under one of the 'ears' of the shell, and you 
can find it in Figure 2 1 . 

"Well, I lived down in the water for a good many 
months and I saw many things that you would like 
to see. There was a whole bed of my brothers and 
sisters around me, and all sorts of funny things 
used to come and visit us. Sometimes a big jelly- 
fish would swim by, looking for all the world like a 
glass umbrella. We seldom spoke to the jellies, for 
they seemed rather vain of their long trains, and 
we did not care to encourage them. 

"Sometimes our visitors would coax us to reach 
out our little fingers and untie our cords and take 
a swim. We were often willing to do this in fine 
weather, and many a famous journey we have taken, 
sometimes visiting other species of Pectens that have 
their home far out from the shore. 

"I grew rapidly, getting my food from little plants 
and animals that abound in sea-water, and as I kept 
enlarging my pretty shells, they never failed to 
cover me when I wished to be alone. I have heard 
that our shells have been used for many purposes 
by men and women, and of course the children 
always love to find them, and use them for spoons 
and dishes. The funniest thing of all was told me 
by an oyster, who said his grandfather had heard a 
fisherman say that sometimes the meats of oysters 
are mixed with cracker-crumbs and butter, and baked 
in large scollop-shells, and so when they are brought 
to the table they are called escalloped oysters. You 



48 WEST COAST SHELLS 

know some people call us scallops, though we pre- 
fer to be known by our true name, Pectens. And he 
said, too, that lately the cooks leave out the shells 
(for which I am very thankful), but keep the name, 
though somewhat shortened, and so they are called 
'scalloped oysters,' even if they are baked in an 
earthen dish. 

"I feel that I am growing old, and that in a little 
time nothing but my shells will be left; so I have 
been asking carefully about my ancestors and my 
kindred, for I want to know who have gone before 
me and who will be likely to follow me. 

"I find that my family is a very old one, and that 
we have colonies all over the world. Our flesh has 
always been esteemed a delicacy, and our shells have 
been much admired by men. But, better than that, I 
find that we and a very few of our near relatives are 
the only bivalves in the ocean that have the power 
to swim freely wherever they choose. 

"Some of my relatives have shells that are fully 
six inches across, while others are tiny little things 
no larger than a dime. But our oddest relative is the 
rock-oyster, or winter shell, as some people call him. 
Figure 23 shows you how he looks, and he may be 
found all along the coast of California. 

"When his children are young they look like little 
yellow-shelled pectens, and they swim about and 
moor themselves as we do. But after a while they 
grow weary of a wandering life, and then they settle 
down in an old abalone-shell or a hollow place in 
some rock, and cement one of their shells to the new 
support. 






MUSSELS AND PECTENS 49 

"As time goes by, they enlarge their shells on 
whatever side there is the most room, and so when 
they get to be old, some are long and narrow, some 
flat and round, while others are cramped or half 
doubled up. 

"As soon as they settle down they close up the 
finger-hole, for they have no more need to spin an- 
chor threads; but you can always see on the shell 
the place that used to be open. You can tell their 
shells, even if they are old and broken, for they 
always color the part next to the hinge with a rich 
purple that never fades or washes out. 

"But good-bye, now, for I must go, or the tide 
will leave me high and dry. When I am dead you 
may find my shells washed up on the beach. If you 
do find them, please put them in your cabinet with a 
proper label ; and whenever you look at them, think 
of me, and of my little story about the pectens." 

Lima dehiscens, Conr., the File-shell, is 
shown in Figure 24. It resembles a pecten, 
but the ears are small. The animal can 
swim freely. The shell is pure white, deli- 
cate, oblique, the valves gaping on one side. 
The sculpturing is fine and straight, like 
the teeth of a file. It is sometimes thrown up by 
storms, and is also found attached to seaweed. Some 
specimens grow to a much larger size than is indi- 
cated by the figure. It occurs from Monterey south- 
ward. 




CHAPTER III 

OYSTERS AND SMALL CLAMS 

Did you ever wake up very early some fine sum- 
mer morning and suddenly remember that you went 
to sleep full of a determination to rise with the sun 
and go out shell-hunting? And did the tempter say 
to you, "It's really too much work; for is not an 
hour of dreaming worth more than a whole bushel 
of shells?" But of course you knew better, and told 
him so; for it was not shells alone that you were 
seeking, but far more valuable things, such as exer- 
cise, health, a good appetite, a cheerful disposition, 
and best of all, the inspiration which comes with an 
early walk by the seaside. 

I do not know where you were sleeping or where 
you intended to take your walk. Such things do not 
matter so much, provided you go to the shore in- 
stead of going to sleep again. It may be that you 
live at the mouth of the Columbia, or at Bolinas, or 
at San Pedro, or at any of a hundred places between; 
if you really hear the call of the sea and obey the 
summons, you are pretty sure to be rewarded. 

My call came while I was sleeping in Pacific 
Grove, and it led me along the old "Lighthouse 
Road"; it took me past rows of houses where 
the lazy smoke was just beginning to curl from 
kitchen chimneys, along through the silent pines with 
their gray, mossy beards, across the railroad, through 



OYSTERS AND SMALL CLAMS 51 

the turnstile into the lighthouse grounds, past the 
tower where the lamp had been burning all night, 
down through the sandy pasture and on towards the 
point of rocks, where the mournful note of the 
whistling buoy told of active waves and restless 
tides. There had been some fog and the trees were 
dripping, but now the sun was just breaking through 
the clouds in the far east, and the whole morning 
was glorious. 

A few other early risers were out on the point 
before me; some on the beach, some searching for 
pretty seaweeds, while others were exploring the 
moss-covered rocks for star-fishes, sea-urchins and 
other sea-creatures. 

The tide was low, and one could easily cross the 
sand to the first island, then work his way down and 
get to the second without much risk of taking an 
involuntary bath. The second island is rather craggy, 
and though one could see treasures on the slippery 
rocks beyond, still it was not wise to venture much 
farther, for the green water was surging in and out 
among the rocks and warning you that all things 
beyond were strictly "taboo." All right; there is 
enough left any way; and up we clamber to the 
highest point of the little island and look off sea- 
ward. What a wonderful view ! The ocean is on three 
sides of you, blue and white and green; deliberately 
active, vigorously quiet; in short, a mighty old giant, 
who knows his strength and who wishes 3011 to know 
and admire it also. 

Out on the distant rocks are flocks of sea-birds, 
mingling their morning cries with the sigh ot the 



52 WEST COAST SHELLS 

surf; nearer, a line of these black-feathered creatures 
darts noiselessly by, just over the surface of the 
water, reminding one of the motions of the fabled 
sea-serpent. On this side are transparent tide-pools 
with their living inhabitants; crabs, sea-stars, little 
fishes, gay sea-urchins, and a host of minor creatures, 
all intent on getting their breakfasts and then set- 
tling down for the day's work. Over there are 
rocks, covered with olive-green seaweeds, which for 
all the world are almost the same that we find pre- 
served in sandstones, a million years old. 

But from all this assemblage of beauty, made 
more enjoyable by the soft murmur of the waves 
and the sweet breath of the morning air, we turn 
back to the little beaches that have been left bare by 
the retreating tide, and gleefully search for treasures 
that may have been left by the truant waters. 
Treasures indeed are all about us, though choice 
shells may be wholly absent. The white sand is 
here, inexpressibty sweet and clean, and multitudes 
of fragments are mingled with it, fragments of bright 
shells, white, red, purple and blue. 

There are grains of pearl, broken but beautiful; 
pieces of limpet-shells, turban-shells, mussel-shells 
and bright abalones; white crystals of feldspar from 
the granite rocks, bits of green glass, worn smooth 
from broken bottles; clear quartz sand-grains and 
many other things, all ground up together in the 
great mill of the sea. Every handful of the sand 
contains something of interest, and every quart is 
liable to reveal some rare shell, beautifully cleaned 
and ready for the cabinet. 



OYSTERS AND SMALL CLAMS 53 

I lingered till the rising tide told me in no uncer- 
tain tones to leave the island immediately if I did 
not wish to be marooned there all day. And then 
I tramped back, carrying a few good specimens, a 
pocketful of pretty fragments, and a heart as light 
as ocean foam. I had seen the morning vision, and 
it had shown me life and light and beauty, and the 
vision had become a part of my being. And you 
may see the vision too, though you look from far 
different standpoints. There ma)^ be sight without 
vision, indeed, but happily the vision is waiting for 
those who wish to see it. 

But leaving visions and 
all those immaterial things, 
let me remark that on this 
walk I found a good many 
broken shells, which, when 
perfect, resemble Figure 
25. This shell is found 
along the whole coast, and 
its name is Monia macro- 
schisma, Desh., the Pearly 
Monia. It belongs very 

closely to the oyster family, but it has decided differ- 
ences. You will notice that one of the valves is 
much smaller than the other, and that it also has a 
large hole in the middle, through which you can see 
an oval muscle-scar with lines radiating" from the 
center. The small valve is seldom found in the 
sands, as it usually adheres to the rock to which the 
whole shell is attached, even after the death of the 
animal, while the upper valve is torn off by the 




54 WEST COAST SHELLS 

waves and washed ashore. The outside of this upper 
valve is rough, and marked by irregular, radiating 
ridges ; but the inside is sometimes beautifully pearly, 
the green and purple tints being most common. 
There are two muscle-scars, the lower one of which 
is not shown in the cut, but it is smaller and smoother 
than the other. The shell is normally circular, though 
it assumes various shapes. The picture represents a 
rather small specimen. When the structure and 
color of the interior are once known, even a small 
fragment of this shell can be readily recognized. 

Anomia lampe, Gray, the Lawless Shell. This is 
a southern species, similar to the last, but smaller, 
the animal having a very thin and delicate shell. It 
also lies upon its right valve, which is concave and 
perforated. Through the opening runs a strong 
byssal plug, firmly attaching the whole to the sup- 
port on which it rests. In color it is yellow and 
shining, and the upper valve is marked with four 
muscle impressions instead of two, as in the last spe- 
cies. It gets its name from its irregular habits of 
growth. Some call this shell Anomia peruviana. 

A great many years ago there were plenty of large 
oysters living off the coast of a land that was in time 
to become the State of California. Some of them 
were very large indeed, so big that a ten-year-old 
boy would not want to carry one of them far with- 
out resting. These shells would be almost as long as 
one of his arms and a good deal thicker than his two 
fists, and what a time he would have in trying to 
open one of them. 



OYSTERS AND SMALL CLAMS 55 

But all that kind of oysters have been dead for 
thousands of years; possibly they were all dead be- 
fore there was a man upon the earth. Yet we now 
find their shells in the rocks, high up on the Coast 
Range of mountains, in the western part of Fresno 
County and in other localities. The name given to 
these huge creatures is Ostrea titan. 

Long, long ago the ocean waves must have rolled 
over these places, for the land was much lower then 
than at present. Apparently the big oysters must 
have had a comfortable life; but there came a 
change, and the ocean beach was slowly lifted 
up and gradually converted into a range of 
mountains, while the sea swept away to the west- 
ward. 

Well, after this age of change and disturbance 
there came one of comparative quiet, and the oys- 
ters of this new age were far smaller than those of 
the old one. In fact, they were very little fellows, 
with thin shells about as large as the petals of a big 
rose. The meats were good eating, however, — Dr. 
LeConte says that they were probably much better 
flavored than the huge Tertiary oysters, — but so 
small that a man needed about a hundred to make 
a good meal. These "native oysters" now live all 
along the coast, but those about Puget Sound are 
especially good. In some parts of San Francisco 
Bay their shells wash up on the shore and are gath- 
ered in large quantities. They are sold for making 
walks and for feeding to chickens. This native 
species is named Ostrea tuv'uia, Cpr., the Lurid 
Oyster. There are two fairly distinct varieties, 



56 WEST COAST SHELLS 

expansa, Cpr., which is nearly circular, and is at- 
tached by the whole surface of the lower valve, and 
rufoides, Cpr., whose shells are reddish in color, and 
often quite oblong in shape. 

As soon as the railroad from California to the 
East had been built over the mountains and across 
the plains there was a chance to bring live oysters 
from the Atlantic coast and plant them in the shal- 
low parts of San Francisco bay. Young oysters can 
be conveniently packed in barrels, and if they are 
kept moist and cool, they will live for a week or 
more, and that was long enough to bring them on the 
cars from one ocean to the other. When they 
arrived at Oakland they were at once put upon rafts 
and taken to places that had been well fenced in to 
keep out the big fishes, which the boys call "sting- 
arees," that like oysters as well as we do. Then a 
man on the raft would take them up in shovelfuls 
and sow them into the water as a man sows wheat in 
his field. In this manner large spaces were planted 
with eastern oysters, mostly Ostrea virginiana, Lis- 
ter. After living three or four years in the bay the 
little oysters have grown from the size of a dime or 
a silver quarter to a length of some four inches. 
They are now gathered by tongs, shaped like two 
rakes fastened together, and piled upon rafts. The 
larger ones are sent to market, while the smaller ones 
are returned to new beds and allowed another year 
of peaceful repose. 

Among the enemies of the oyster may be men- 
tioned the Ray fish, already alluded to, the starfish, 
which has a bad habit of insinuating its everted 



OYSTERS AND SMALL CLAMS 57 

stomach between the two shells of its victim and 
digesting him alive; various "drills," or small sea- 
snails, which bore their way through the shell and 
attack a vital spot; also mud, which may be washed 
in in time of freshet and then bury the helpless crea- 
tures ; also frost, which may occur during cold morn- 
ings in the winter when the tide is low and the beds 
of oysters are left exposed to the full influence of 
the weather. This last enemy is not much feared in 
California, but is liable to cause extensive damage 
farther to the north. 

The native oysters reproduce rapidly, but experi- 
ments with the imported species have not been alto- 
gether satisfactory. It is certain, however, that some 
of their young do survive and grow, and the subject 
needs further investigation. Large oysters always 
command a high price upon the Pacific coast, and 
this fact has led to a great trade in canned oysters, 
put up on the other side of the continent. Some at- 
tempts have been made to introduce living Japanese 
oysters upon the northern coasts of California. The 
whole subject is one of great interest, and in a finan- 
cial way, is perhaps the most important problem 
connected with our study of western mollusks. 

We now come to a very different family i%% 
of mollusks, and they are far more regular Wg 
in shape than those that we have just been 
considering. Figure 26 gives a good idea Flg ' 
of the Little Heart-shell, Cardita subquadrata, 
Cpr. The name is very much longer than the shell. 
and even the little picture is too large for ordinal) 
specimens. It is a firm, hard little shell, however. 



58 



WEST COAST SHELLS 




Fig. 27 (*) 



and can easily be identified by the strong ribs which 
seem to radiate from one corner. The color is 
brownish-white, the inside being sometimes stained 
with purple. It may occasionally be found alive, 
attached to stones, while dead specimens are often 
washed up with the gravel on the beach. 

In Figure 27 we 
have a picture of the 
inside of the right 
valve of Calyptogena 
pacifica, Dall, the 
Pacific Calypto. The 
outside of the shell is 
nearly smooth, being 
marked only by lines 
of growth, though the white exterior may be cov- 
ered with a thick, greenish epidermis. It was 
dredged off Dixon Entrance, Alaska, in 322 fathoms 
of water. You will notice in this shell, as in all 
belonging to this great family, that the pallial line 
is entire, showing that the creatures do not burrow 
deeply in the mud at the bottom of the sea. 

Figure 28 gives a good ex- 
ternal view of Venericardia 
alaskana, Dall, the Alaskan 
Venus-heart. It was collected 
at Nunivak Island, in Bering 
Sea. Notice the strong ribs, 
the lines of growth, and the 
artistic outline of the whole 
shell. 




Fig. 28 (*) 






OYSTERS AND SMALL CLAMS 



59 



Figure 29 shows both an inside and an outside 
view of V enericardia ventricosa, Gould, the Ventri- 
cose Venus-heart. The figures 
were made from a specimen 
found in Puget Sound. This 
species also lives from the 
Aleutian Islands in the north 
to Catalina Island in the 
south, where it has been 
dredged in thirty fathoms of 
water. 

V enericardia barbarense, 
Stearns, the Santa Barbara 
Venus-heart, shown in Figure 
30, resembles the last species, 
but is more circular, has more 
ribs and a less prominent beak. 



Fig. 29, x ! (*) 

Dredged off Santa Barbara 
Islands in green mud, at 276 
fathoms depth. 






Fig. 31 (*) 



Figure 



31 



Fig. 30. x i (*) 



view of V enericardia crassi- 
dens, Brod, & Sby., the Heavy- 



60 WEST COAST SHELLS 

toothed Venus-heart. The figure is of the natural 
size, and the specimen from which it was made was 
obtained in the vicinity of Icy Cape. Notice the 
very heavy hinge-teeth, from which the species re- 
ceived its name. 

The last member of this family of the Carditida 
to be noticed is named Milneria minima, Dall, the 
Least Milner-shell. It was discovered by Dr. Wm. 
H. Dall in 1866, at Monterey, where it was found 
nestling on the back of abalones. It is a curious 
little bivalve, about as large as a grain of wheat, 
light brown in color, very strongly angled, and 
marked by numerous lines of growth. It is worth 
looking for. 

The members of the genus 
Astarte have thick shells, cov- 
ered with dark, heavy epi- 
dermis. Astarte, by the way, 
was the Syrian Venus, so we 
have another mythical name 
added to the many which have 
gone before. As Venus was 
supposed to represent beauty, so the beautiful shells 
are appropriately given her various names. Figure 
32 represents Astarte ataskensis, Dall, the Alaskan 
Astarte. The figure is about natural size, and very 
plainly shows the peculiarities of the shell. The 
epidermis, or periostracum, is very dark, and be- 
comes black in old shells, while the solid portion 
beneath it is white. This species lives in Bering 
Sea, and has been found as far south as Puget 
Sound. 




OYSTERS AND SMALL CLAMS 



61 




Astarte polaris, Dall, the 
Polar Astarte, is shown, 
somewhat enlarged, in 
Figure 33. This shell is 
more delicate than the 
last, with finer and more 
numerous ridges; it has a 
polished, light brown epi- 
dermis. It comes from Fig.33.xK*) 
Alaska, near the Shumagin Islands, also from Baf- 
fin's Bay on the Greenland coast. 

Figure 34 shows the ap- 
pearance of the Esquimalt 
Astarte, Astarte esquimalti, 
Baird, which may be easily 
recognized by its irregular 
sculpturing, so clearly 
shown in the picture. This 
species ranges from the 

Aleutian Islands to Puget 
Fi g .34.xK*) SouncL 

Astarte vernicosa, Dall, the 
Varnished Astarte, Figure 35, is 
a small species, its shell being 
covered with a yellow-brown 
periostracum and brilliantly pol- 
ished. It is found in Bering Sea. 
There are several other species of 





this genus, 



iving in northern waters. 



Fig. 35. x'i (*) 

which will not 



be described in this book. 

Crassatella marginata^ C 
tella, is a minute, southern shell, about the size of a 



the Margined Cras 



ssa- 



62 WEST COAST SHELLS 

large pin-head. Somewhat triangular, yellowish, 
marked with brown chevrons. 

Chlamydoconcha orcutti, Dall, Orcutt's Cloak- 
shell, is a singular mollusk, which was discovered by 
Charles R. Orcutt, in False Bay near San Diego. 
It lives under stones. It is a bivalve mollusk, but 
the shells, singularly enough, are internal, and very 
minute when compared with the size of the body, 
which is about an inch long. The animal is shaped 
somewhat like a cowry, and the flesh is translucent 
and jelly-like. 

Under the Leptonidse we 
have quite a number of shells, 
most of them of small size. 
Figure 36 gives an enlarged 
view of Erycina co?npressa, 
Dall, the Compressed Erycina, 
Fig. 36, x f (*) which has a delicate, white, 

compressed shell, covered with a thin, wrinkled 
periostracum. It occurs in Bering Sea and south- 
ward as far as Sitka. Erycina is still another name 
for Venus. 

In Figure 37 we have a singular combination. 
The greater part of the picture is a ventral view of 
the Mud Prawn, Gebia pugetensis, Dana, which 
lives in the waters of Puget Sound, and is very ex- 
pert in burrowing in the soft sediment. But attached 
to its abdomen is a little mollusk, represented of 
natural size, which the prawn carries along wherever 
it goes, whether willingly or not I do not know. 
This little mollusk is named Erycina rugifera, Cpr., 
the Rough Erycina. It was formerly called Lepton 




OYSTERS AND SMALL CLAMS 



63 



rude, Whiteaves. It also 
lives on the "Sea Mouse." 

We now come to two lit- 
tle shells, very smooth and 
pretty, the first of which is 
named Kellia laperousii, 
Desh., after the French ex- 
plorer, La Perouse. We 
will call it the Smooth 
Kelly-shell. When living j^gN 
it is covered with a shining, 
light brown epidermis. The 
ligament is small and inter- 
nal. This little nestler 
lives in sheltered places, 
such as holes in the rocks; 
often in the deserted homes 
of the piddocks, or rock- 
borers. I once found a 
whole colony of them of 
different ages, all living 
happily together within the valves of a dead clam. 
The shell is somewhat oval in shape, and is about 
half an inch in length. 

Kellia suborbicularis, Montagu, the Globose 
Kelly-shell, is a thin, delicate little bivalve, about 
one-third of an inch in length. The little creature 
can spin a byssus with its foot and attach itself at 
will to any projecting object. It is often found 
among the twisted holdfasts of seaweeds. It is an 
interesting fact that this species lives not only on 
this coast, but is found in European waters as well, 




Fig. 37 (*); 




Fig. 38, x ? (*) 



64 WEST COAST SHELLS 

thus connecting the fauna of the Atlantic and the 
Pacific oceans. 

The members of the genus My- 
sella are very small creatures, 
with thin, sometimes transparent 
shells. Figure 38 represents the 
inside of a valve of My sella aleu- 
tica, Dall, the Aleutian Mysella. 
Its shell is solid, smooth, and white, and it is cov- 
ered with a polished, straw-colored epidermis. Its 
length is only 4.3 mm. 

A closely related shell is the little Lasea rubra, 
Montagu, the Red Lasea. As the name indicates, 
it is reddish-brown in color. This shell is found 
living on the coast of England, as well as on this 
coast. It loves to hide in the root-like holdfasts of 
seaweeds and in cracks of the rocks. Jeffreys says 
that it is viviparous, and that it lives as much out of 
the sea as in it. 

Another little creature that lives on the shores of 
the Atlantic and the Pacific is c furto?iia minuta, 
Fabr., which the naturalist, Rev. J. G. Wood, calls 
the Little Mullet-shell, because it is often found in 
the stomachs of mullets. He advises all zoologists 
to examine the stomachs of such fishes as they can 
secure, since they often contain objects of much in- 
terest. 'This little shell," says he, "is about the 
size of a capital O, is exceedingly thin, purple-brown 
in hue, dark at the beak. It may be found by look- 
ing among the roots of corallines and other Algse." 
On our side of the world it lives on the coast of 
northern Alaska. 



OYSTERS AND SMALL CLAMS 



65 



tfurtonia occidentalism Dall, the Western Mullet- 
shell, also lives in Bering Strait and northward. It 
is said to be larger, stouter, and shorter than the last 
species. 

We now come to the great sub-order Lucinacea, 
named from the word Lucina, one of the titles of 
the goddess Juno, in heathen mythology. The shells 
internally are marked with one very long and nar- 
row muscle-scar, while the other is nearly round. 
The pallial line which joins them has no sinus. Fig- 
ure 39 gives two 
views of tfhya- 
sir a bisecta, Con- 
rad, the Cleft 
Thyasira, which 
was found in 
the deep water 
of Puget Sound 
by Prof. O. B. 
Johnson. It has 
also been found 
in the far north. It is the largest species of the 
genus, sometimes measuring two or even three inches 
across. The figure plainly shows its peculiarities. 

thyasira barbarensis, Dall, the Barbara Thyasira, 
resembles the last, but the beaks are more nearly in 
the center. It was formerly known as Cryptodon or 
Axinus. It ranges along the coast from Washington 
to Mexico. The shell is white and chalky externally, 
and measures 17 mm. in length. 

thyasira excavata, Dall, the Sculptured Thyasira, 
has a thin, white shell, with a yellowish epidermis. 




Fig. 39, x i (*) 



66 



WEST COAST SHELLS 




The side of the shell is deeply infolded, making a 
sharp excavation. Its length is only 20 mm,, less 
than an inch. It has been dredged from cold water 
off the coast of Oregon, and also in the Gulf of Cali- 
fornia. 

Axinopsis viridis, Dall, the 
Green Axinopsis, is shown in Fig- 
ure 40. The polished, pale green 
periostracum gives the shell its 
specific name. It is only a quarter 
of an inch across, and so the figure 
really looks sixteen times too large. 
Fig. 40, x i (*) Thi s little mollusk lives in muddy 
or sandy bottoms along the coasts from Japan and 
Bering Straits down to Catalina Island. How full 
of life are the waters of the ocean. 

Axinopsis sericatus, Cpr., the Silky Axinopsis, is 
very similar to the last, but the outline is less cir- 
cular. It comes from Puget Sound, but also from 
the coasts of Alaska and California. The silky 
epidermis suggested its name. 

Diplodonta aleutica, Dall, the 
Arctic Diplodonta, ranges from the 
Pribilof Islands to the Aleutian 
chain, and eastward to the Shu- 
magin Islands. The picture, Fig- 
ure 41, represents a young speci- 
men, having a silky, olivaceus epi- 
dermis. Other species grow to the length of an inch 
or more, and are coarse and chalky. 

Diplodonta orbella, Gould, the Round Diplo- 
donta, is a not uncommon California shell. It is a 




Fig. 41, x \ (*) 



OYSTERS AND SMALL CLAMS 67 

pretty species, smooth and white, and the valves are 
so much inflated that small specimens resemble white 
marbles. The animal has a habit of forming a pro- 
tecting nest of sand, cemented by mucus. This nest 
has long, tubular openings for the siphons, so that 
the inmate is wholly concealed. 

In Figure 42 a nearly nat- 
ural sized view is given of 
both the outside and the in- 
side of Phacoides <zquizon- 
atus, Stearns, the Banded 
Lucine, a rare species, speci- 
mens of which were dredged 
from deep water in the Santa 
Barbara Channel. Most of 
the shells of the genus Phaco- 
ides, which means lentil-like, 
were formerly called Lucina, 
the goddess of light, a name 
applied to one or more of 
the mythical beings of the 

t , . & Fig. 42 (*) 

olden time. 

Figure 43 represents one of the 
most common bivalve shells to be 
found along the coast of central 
California. Its name is Phacoides 
calif ornicus, Conr., the California 
Lucine. It is pure white in color, 
circular in outline, and varies in its 

size from that of a dime to that of a half-dollar. 

The cardinal hinge-teeth are small, while the lateral 

ones are strong. The ligament is external, and the 





68 



WEST COAST SHELLS 



lunule, in this species, belongs wholly to the right 
valve, instead of being divided nearly equally be- 
tween the two, which is the more common fashion. 
As in other species of this genus the forward muscle- 
scar is long and narrow, and the pallial line is entire. 
I have gathered a few living specimens from the 
gravel among rocks at Pacific Grove, when the tide 
was very low, and have collected many empty, but 
really good shells that have been cast up by the 
waves. It is one of the shells that you will be sure 
to find on the little beaches beyond the lighthouse 
at Point Pinos, near which, from the island cliffs, 
there is one of the finest sea views to be had any- 
where along the coast. 

Phacoides nuttallii, Conr., NuttalPs Lucine, is 
similar in shape to the last species, but is much more 
highly sculptured. The sharp, fine lines of growth 
are crossed by many delicate rays, making its surface 
look like fine basket-work. It is somewhat flattened 
and is ridged along the hinge-line. Color white, 
length an inch or less, southern. 

In Figure 44 we 
see a drawing of the 
inside of a valve of 
Phacoides annula- 
tus, Reeve, the 
Ringed Lucine. It 
is a large shell, and 
it ranges from Sitka 
to San Pedro, living 
in moderately deep 
water. This is the 




OYSTERS AND SMALL CLAMS 



69 



species formerly known on this coast as Lucina bore- 
alzs, and sometimes as Lucina filosa, Stimp., which, 
however, is an Atlantic species. It has also been 
called Lucina acutilineata, Conr. The shell is large 
and full, and its outside is marked with sharp, con- 
centric ridges. 

Phacoides tenuisculptus, Cpr., the Fine-lined Lu- 
cine, occurs mostly in the cold waters of the north, 
ranging from Puget Sound to Bering Sea, though 
it occasionally occurs as far south as Catalina Island. 
Alaska dredgings from muddy bottoms yield it 
abundantly. The shell is chalky and it is usually 
somewhat abraided. 




Fig. 45, x \ (*) 

Still another illustration of a member of this 
genus is given in Figure 45, which shows both the 
inside and outside of Phacoides richthofeni, Gabb, 
the Heavy Lucine. It is occasionally found at Cata- 
lina Island, Long Beach, and southward, though it 
is never plentiful. It is a small, heavy shell, the 
picture being drawn from a young specimen, very 
clearly marked. 



CHAPTER IV 



CHAMA, CARDIUM AND VENUS 




Fig. 46 



We pass now to some en- 
tirely - different shells ; very 
irregular, very rough, and 
very firmly fixed in their 
places. A picture of one of 
these shells is shown in Fig- 
ure 46. This species is 
named Chama pellucida, 
Sby., the Agate Chama. 
You notice by the figure 
that the inside of the shell is smooth enough, and 
that there is a big, oblique hinge-tooth near the upper 
right-hand corner. The outside, however, is very 
rough, being covered by many close frills, which 
are translucent, like agate or chalcedony. Some- 
times they are white or almost colorless, and some- 
times they are dashed with rosy red. The inside of 
the shell is lined with a white, opaque layer, which 
is beautifully crenulated at the edge. The living 
shell is always attached to some firm support, like a 
rock or a post. So strong is the adhesion that you 
must break off a part of the rock or you will sacri- 
fice a part of the shell. It is very easy to overlook 
them, as they appear like ragged knobs on the rock, 
but when you have collected a good specimen you 
will greatly admire its peculiar beauty. Upper 



CHAMA, CARDIUM AND VENUS 71 

valves are often torn off by the waves and washed 
ashore. They are easily identified, though a novice 
often confounds them with limpet-shells. I have 
some exceedingly beautiful specimens that were 
taken from piles that had been pulled up from a 
disused wharf at San Pedro. 

Chama exogyra, Conr., the Reversed Chama, has 
a coarser, more opaque shell, with but little beauty 
of form or color, and is usually of a dirty white 
color. The chief difference, however, is determined 
by the curve of the umbones. If you stand a speci- 
men of this species on its edge, with the beaks upper- 
most and curving towards you, the side which was 
attached to the rock will be towards your left hand. 
But if you place a specimen of pellucid a in the same 
position, the rocky side will be towards your right 
hand. I have gathered the two species growing side 
by side, and I have never known this rule to fail. 
Both of these species live at Monterey. 

Chama spinosa, Sby., the Spiny Chama, is a south- 
ern species, living mostly along the Mexican coast, 
but perhaps reaching as far north as San Diego. It 
resembles the first species, but its ridges are broken 
into close, short spines. 

We now come to the interesting family of the 
Heart-shells, or Cockles, as they are called in many 
places. There are over two hundred species of them 
known in different parts of the world, and the)' vary 
exceedingly in size and appearance. The}- arc all 
ver)' decidedly heart-shaped, whether you look at 
them from the front or the back of the shell. Most 
of them have prominent ribs running from the umbo 



72 



WEST COAST SHELLS 



to the edge of the shell. Internally, there is a central 
hinge-tooth, and also strong lateral ones, somewhat 
removed to the right and left. The pallial line is 
simple, for these creatures do not burrow. They 
have a long and strong foot, however, by means of 
which they can move rather freely, or even anchor 
themselves, if such an operation is necessary. 

Figure 47 gives a good 
end view of Cardium cor- 
bis, Martyn, the Basket 
Cockle. This is the most 
common species on the 
west coast, occurring as 
far south as San Diego. 
But the true home of this 
species is in the cold 
water of the north. At 
Fort Wrangel in Alaska, 
I once collected very fine 

Fig. 47 . J . 

specimens, one morning 
when the tide was low, some of which were as much 
as four inches across. I shall never forget that 
strange scene. The little village by the seaside, the 
dark forests in the background, the rocks laid bare 
by the retreating waters, the olive-green seaweeds 
with here and there the big white cockles lying 
upon them. On shore was a mixture of the new and 
the old; modern houses and ancient totem poles, 
white men and native Indians, and all lighted up 
by the early sun on that first day of June. 

The shell of this cockle, and in fact of most 
cockles, is rather brittle, being of an earthen tex- 




CHAMA, CARDIUM AND VENUS 73 

ture, and specimens are easily broken. Like most 
creatures of the sea, the cockles make an excellent 
article of food. The Basket Cockle lives as far 
north as Bering Sea, and follows down the other 
coast to Japan. It includes Cardium nuttalli, Conr. 

Cardium californiense, Desh., the California 
Cockle, has a similar range as the last species, but 
is reported as far south as Monterey. The ribs on 
this species are close and flat, and the margin is 
regular. A variety, comoxense, Dall, is reported 
from the boulder clay of Vancouver Island, that has 
the ribs so flattened that they are defined only by 
the interstitial lines. C. pseudofossile, Rve., and C. 
blandum are included in C. calif or niense. 

Cardium fucanum, Dall, the Straits Cockle, was 
formerly supposed to be a young form of C. cali- 
forniense. It was given a specific name in 1907. 
The shell is small, plump, compact and solid with 
about fifty small, low ribs. Most of the specimens 
come from the Straits of Fuca, though it has been 
dredged at Monterey. It is not a common shell. 

Cardium ciliatum, O. Fabr., the Bearded Cockle, 
ranges through the boreal seas and descends to Cape 
Cod on the eastern, and to Puget Sound on the west- 
ern coast. The shells are small and bearded. There 
are many varieties, which have received separate 
names. 

Cardium biangulatum, Sby., the Angled Cockle, 
is a southern species, being found from the Santa 
Barbara Islands to Panama. It has a heavy shell, 
40 mm. high, with strong ribs. 'The interior is red- 
dish in color. 




74 WEST COAST SHELLS 

Cardium elatum, Sby., the Giant Cockle, is the 
largest species of the genus, some specimens being 
fully six inches high. Its range is about the same 
as that of the last species. It is yellowish externally, 
but white inside, and the smooth ribs are very 
slightly elevated. 

Cardium sub striatum, Conr., the 
Egg-shell Cockle, is another south- 
erner, very much smaller than the 
last, for Figure 48 represents an 
unusually large specimen. Obscure 
ribs are generally visible, and the 
shell is mottled, especially inside, 
Fig.Ts^? with reddish-brown splashes, like 

a sparrow's egg. 
Cardium quadrigenarium, Conr., the Forty- ribbed 
Cockle, is another southern species, and it grows in 
deep water to a remarkable size. In spite of its 
name the ribs are usually rather more than forty in 
number. While the shell is young the ribs are com- 
paratively smooth, but when it is older the newer 
parts are set with yellow teeth, or short horns, giv- 
ing the shell a very peculiar appearance. The strong 
crenulations on the edges of the valves are also yel- 
low, especially in adult specimens. 

Serripes gronlandicus, Gmel., the Greenland 
Heart-shell, is an arctic species coming down to 
Cape Cod and Puget Sound, like Cardium ciliatum. 
Its hinge-teeth are small and almost obsolete, and 
the surface is smooth or only slightly radiately 
striate. 



CHAMA, CARDIUM AND VENUS 75 

Protocardia centifilosa, Cpr., the Hundred-Lined 
Cockle, has a small, thin shell, whose surface is 
sculptured with very many exceedingly fine lines. 
The umbones are prominent, the outline circular, 
with a diameter of nearly an inch. It ranges from 
British Columbia to San Diego. A variety, rich- 
ardsonii, Whiteaves, reaches from the north to the 
coast of Oregon. It is very small, and is rarely 
found. 

We now come to the Veneracea, a sub-order in- 
cluding many of the most interesting shells to be 
found along our coast. The typical genus of this 
order is named Venus, after the goddess of beauty, 
but the old genus has been divided among many 
names. The first shell to be described is Dosinia 
ftonderosa, Gray, the Heavy Dosinia. Its real home 
is near the equator, but it is found from Peru to San 
Pedro Bay. The shell is nearly circular, about four 
inches in diameter, pure white internally, but creamy 
brown on the outside. It is very smooth, save for 
concentric lines of growth, and the deep lunule is 
heart-shaped. The shells are thin at the edges, but 
very thick and heavy in the older parts. The pallial 
sinus is V-shaped, and the ligament is external. 

tfransennella tantilla, Gld., the Little Transen- 
nella, has a shell ranging from V% to Yz of an inch 
in length. It is somewhat triangular, its surface is 
very smooth and bright, its external color is white, 
or perhaps marked with brown, while internal ly it is 
white with a purple stripe at the posterior end. It 
was formerly called Psephis tantilla^ and it has also 
received various other names. It ranges from Sitka 
to Mexico. 



76 WEST COAST SHELLS 

Figure 49 represents a very large, heavy shell, 
probably the largest of all the Venus shells. It is 
now known as Tivela stultorum, Mawe, the Great 
Tivela. Of course that is not a correct translation 




Fig. 49 

of the Latin; that you may make for yourselves, 
avoiding the joke. It used to be called Pachydesma 
crassatelloides, and it has also had a good many 
other names, all of which have been duly considered 
at the Smithsonian Institution, and the one most 
entitled to permanence has been selected to remain. 
The name tivela crassatelloides, Conrad, is, how- 
ever, now considered to be the correct one. 

The specimen figured above was over five inches 
in length, and weighed over a pound, without the 
animal. The valves are very thick and heavy, even 
to their edges, which are smooth and finely rounded. 
The hinge-teeth are strong, the heavy ligament ex- 



CHAMA, CARDIUM AND VENUS 



77 



ternal, and the pallial sinus is small. Externally the 
shell is smooth, yellowish white, sometimes marked 
with conspicuous purple rays, and is partly covered 
with a glossy epidermis. The inside is white, with 
purple muscle-scars. The Tivelas live from Santa 
Cruz southward, and they burrow but slightly. 
Sometimes at low tide the farmers come down with 
a plow and run furrows in the sand, turning out the 
mollusks like potatoes. They are highly esteemed 
by lovers of a good clam chowder, and occasionally 
they get into the city markets, where they are called 
Pismo clams. 

Amiantis cal- 
losa, Conr., the 
White Amian- 
tis, is shown 
in Figure 50. 
This is a beauti- 
ful, pure white, 
southern shell, 
three or four 
inches in 
length. The 
valves are thin at the 
edges and thick near the 
umbones. Externally 
there are no ribs what- 
ever, but many concen- 
tric, rounded ridges, some 
of which divide into two. 

Pitaria newcombiana, 
Gabb, NewcomlVs Pirn- 




Fig. 50 




7S 



WEST COAST SHELLS 




ria, Figure 51, has been 
found in moderately deep 
water from Monterey 
southward. It is thin and 
delicate, with zigzag, 
brown markings, and a 
papery epidermis. 

Figure 52 gives a bold 
picture of Cytherea fordi, 
Yates, Ford's Cytherea, 
which is found from the Santa Barbara Islands to 
Panama. It is very thick and heavy and has a very 
deep lunule. It sometimes reaches a length of two 
and a half inches. This is the shell that passed for 
years as Venus toreuma, Gld., but that is found to 
be a distinct Polynesian species. 



Fig.52(*) 




Fig. 53 



CHAMA, CARDIUM AND VENUS 79 

The Saxidomes of this coast have recently been 
revised by Dr. Dall, and the numerous names re- 
duced to two. The first is Saxidomus nuttallii, 
Conr., Nuttall's Saxidome, a good likeness of which 
is shown in Figure 53. It includes the old S. aratus, 
Gld. The shells are usually marked by rough, con- 
centric ridges, as shown in the figure. When young, 
there are brownish markings near the beaks, with 
a trace of purple internally, on the upper, posterior 
margin. The hinge-teeth are strong, and the sinus 
deep. This shell sometimes reaches a length of 
nearly five inches. It is found from central Cali- 
fornia to San Diego. 

Saxidomus giganteus, Desh., the Giant Saxidome, 
is the other species. It ranges from the Aleutian 
Islands to the Bay of Monterey. It is solid, broad 
and heavy, but the concentric structure is much less 
pronounced than in the last species. While the 
young are yellowish white, and the exterior of older 
specimens is sometimes fulvous, the interior is always 
white. The adult shell is said to sometimes reach 
a length of five inches. I gathered numerous speci- 
mens at Sitka, averaging about 3 inches in length 
and nearly that in height. They were pure white 
inside, and almost glossy, while externally they were 
comparatively smooth and quite chalky. This shell 
has been confounded with Saxidomus squalidus, but 
that species is found on the coast of South America. 
The Giant Saxidomes are sometimes sold in the 
markets of Portland, Ore., being brought up from 
the coast. 

There are three species of Chione upon the coast. 



80 



WEST COAST SHELLS 




Fig. 54 



but they have received, however, 
several times three names. Fig- 
ure 54 gives an end view of Chi- 
one succincta, Yah, the Banded 
Chione. The cordate lunule is a 
prominent mark, while on the 
other side of the beaks is the long 
and deep escutcheon. Numerous 
ribs radiate out from the umbo, 
but those in the middle generally 
become flattened towards the edge of the shell. The 
concentric ridges, as shown in the picture, run around 
the shell somewhat like hoops around a barrel. The 
interior of the shell is white, while the outside is a 
dingy yellow. 

Chione undatella, Sby., the Wavy Chione, is a 
species which varies considerably, but it can usually 
be told readily by the great number of concentric 
lamellae, which are closer together as they come near 
the edge of the shell, almost completely concealing 
the ribs. The valves are inflated, thick and heavy. 
Sometimes the interior is purple around the pallial 
sinus. These shells, which are seldom over two 
inches long, are found abundantly in southern Cali- 
fornia. 

Chione fluctifraga, Sby., the Smooth Chione, is 
about the same size as the others. There is no dis- 
tinct lunule, as in the other kinds, and the rib struc- 
ture in the middle of the disk becomes fainter with 
age, till it sometimes almost disappears near the edge 
of the shell. Internally the valves are more or less 
purple. All three of these species have strong, heavy 



CHAMA, CARDIUM AND VENUS 81 

shells, which are marked by fine internal teeth 
around the edges. Farther to the south there are 
many other species. 

Venus Kennicottii, Dall, Kennicott's Venus, is a 
very rare shell which has been found at Neah Bay, 
Washington, and off the coast of central California. 
It is finely and closely lamellose over the whole sur- 
face. It somewhat resembles the common Venus 
mercenaria of the Atlantic coast. Its length is two 
and a half inches. 




Fig. 55 (*) 



Figure 55 represents a fine, large shell, taken alive 
at Sitka. A worn valve was found many years ago 
at Carmel Bay, near Monterey. Its name is Marcia 
kennerleyi, Rve., Kennerley's Marcia. It is nearly 
three inches in length, and is grayish white in color. 

Marcia subdiaphana, Cpr., the Translucent Mar- 
cia, lives in Alaskan waters, and also, in tolerably 
deep water, as far south as the Santa Barbara Chan- 
nel. The shell is thin, white, with an olive-gray 
epidermis, and reaches a length of over two inches. 
It was described by Carpenter under the name 
Clementia, 




Fig. 56 



82 WEST COAST SHELLS 

Figure 56 represents 
one of the commonest 
shells to be found on the 
western coast. It has re- 
ceived quite a variety of 
names, but it is now 
classed as Paphia stami- 
nea, Conr., the Ribbed 
Carpet-shell. It is one 
of the few mollusks sold freely in the San Fran- 
cisco markets, where it is known as the Hard-shelled 
Clam. In color it varies from pure white to deep 
chocolate, and some of the varieties are prettily 
marked with chestnut chevrons. While it occurs all 
along the coast, it is most abundant to the north of 
San Francisco. The name Paphia relates to the city 
of Paphos, one of the haunts of the goddess Venus, 
for whom so many shells are named. Among the 
numerous varieties of this shell, we mention var. 
petiti, Desh., the large, unmarked kind found north 
of the Columbia river; var. laciniata, Cpr., a south- 
ern form with beautiful network covering, and many 
small prickles; var. ruderata, Desh., which has dis- 
tinct, concentric ridges, sometimes larger than the 
ribs; var. orbella, Cpr., which includes swollen and 
irregular specimens, living in holes in the rocks, 
where they are confined and cramped, while most 
members of the species live in coarse gravel and 
grow to regular shapes. 

Paphia tenerrima, Cpr., the Finest Carpet-shell, is 
a rather rare species, very distinct, and very pleasing 
in appearance. An inside view of a left-hand valve 



CHAMA, CARDIUM AND VENUS 



83 




Fig. 57, x 



is given in Figure 57, to which reference has already 
been made on page 2 1 . The outside of the shell is 
marked with many low, concentric ridges, and innu- 
merable, minute ribs. The valves are thin and the 
color is brownish gray. 

Figure 58 represents Liocyma 
scammoni, Dall, Scammon's Lio- 
cyma, which is found off the 
coast of British Columbia. The 
shell is dark, solid, with strong 




Fig. 58. x 1 (*) 



hinge and 
ligament. 



The pallial sinus is small. 

Liocyma viridis, Dall, the 
Green Liocyma, is a far 
northerner, being found in the 
neighborhood of Bering Strait. 




Fig. 59 (*) 



84 



WEST COAST SHELLS 




Fig. 60 



The shell is oval, and when fresh it is of a fine olive- 
green color, which bleaches to cream. In each valve 
there are three cardinal hinge-teeth, the middle one 
being cleft. The form of the shell is shown in Fig- 
ure 59. 

Venerupis lamellifera, Conr., the 
Rock- Venus, is shown in Figure 60. 
The shell is white, very irregular, and 
is marked with many thin, concentric 
aminae, which sometimes are very 
prominent. There may also be a trace of obso- 
lete ribs. In habit it is a nestler among rocks. Very 
young specimens are often purple tinted. Some speci- 
mens are considerably larger than the figure. 

Figure 61 gives two good 
views of Psephidia lordi, 
Baird, Lord's Pebble-shell, a 
plump little bivalve which 
lives off the shore, below the 
tide line, from Alaska to 
southern California. In color it is white or pale 
tinted. The figures are much enlarged. 

Psephidea ovalis, Dall, the Oval Pebble-shell, is 
larger, more oval, and more compressed. The shell 
is white and polished. Its range is about the same 
as that of the last species. Viviparous. 

Gemma gemma, Totten, the Gem-shell, is a very 
small bivalve recently introduced into San Francisco 
bay, with seed oysters from the Atlantic. The 
shells are nearly round and are marked with delicate, 
concentric ridges. The color is white, or they may 
be tinged with purple. Many specimens are not 




CHAMA, CARDIUM AND VENUS 85 

larger than a big pin head. The inflated, trigonal 
variety is known as var. purpurea, H. C. Lea. 

Petricola carditoides, Conr., the Rock-dweller, is a 
very variable creature, and often seems to be the vic- 
tim of circumstances. Normally the shell is oval, 
with radiating ribs ; but the creature has the habit of 
boring into soft rock, or getting into a hole that was 
there before, and then growing to fit the premises. 
For this reason it happens that specimens differ much 
in external appearance. Sometimes one is long and 
narrow, while its neighbor is shaped like a fat bean. 
The ligament is external, the hinge-teeth strong, 
though sometimes they are nearly obsolete, while the 
shell becomes thick and rough. The color is dingy 
white, and the length is an inch and sometimes even 
two inches. 



CHAPTER V 



OTHER BIVALVE MOLLUSKS 




Fig. 62 



While re- 
turning one 
morning 
from a ram- 
ble over the 
rocks of Pa- 
cific Grove 
that had been 
left bare by 
the retreating 
tide, I was 
much sur- 
prised to see what seemed to be two white worms 
moving about in a little hollow between the mossy 
rocks, which was filled with sand and sea-water. 
The}^ were long and round, and about the size of a 
lead pencil. As soon as I disturbed them a little, 
they disappeared beneath the surface of the wet sand. 
Suspecting what these singular creatures might be- 
long to, I at once began to dig, and soon came upon 
a fine clam, with a shell like that which is shown in 
Figure 62. 

I was exceedingly glad to make the acquaintance 
of a real, live Psammobia calif ornica, Conr., the 
California Sunset-shell, for so I learned to call him. 
As I wanted to see more of him and become better 



OTHER BIVALVE MOLLUSKS 87 

acquainted, I took him home in a large glass jar, 
filled with sea-water and sand, and had the pleasure 
of seeing him dig a burrow and throw out his beau- 
tiful siphons. I kept him thus for several days, but 
he could not live comfortably in my very limited 
"ocean," and when he had ceased to live at all I pre- 
pared his shells for my cabinet, where they remain to 
this day. 

Within, they are the purest white, resembling fine 
porcelain. The pallial sinus is large, the hinge-teeth 
small, and behind them is a thickened portion of 
shell about half an inch long, which terminates quite 
abruptly, exposing part of the ligament. Externally 
it is white, with red rays running from the umbones, 
while the newer parts are covered with a brown epi- 
dermis. My specimen was the same size as the 
figure, but sometimes, and especially in the north 
they grow considerably larger. 

Psammobia edentula, Gabb, the Great Sunset- 
shell, is a fine large species resembling the last, but 
having the beaks only one third of its length from 
the front end of the shell. The posterior portion 
are full and broad. The external ligament is very 
conspicuous, and the hinge-teeth are present, in spite 
of its name, two on the right valve and one on the 
left. The specimen before me was dredged in San 
Pedro Bay, and measures five inches in length. 

Figure 63 is a rather poor picture of 
Donax Icvigata, Desh., the Smooth 
Wedge-shell. This species is found 
abundantly in southern California, 
living just under the surface of the sand. It is short 




88 WEST COAST SHELLS 

and stumpy, cut nearly short off at one end, and 
tapering to a rounded point at the other. The edges 
are finely crenulated. In color the shells vary from 
white to purple, and are often beautifully striped. 
This species is sometimes used for food, in spite of 
its small size. 

Donax californica, Conr., the California Wedge- 
shell, is quite distinct from the last species, and is 
easily distinguished by the fact that the shells are 
much thinner and lighter. The posterior end is 
much more prolonged, bringing the beaks much 
nearer the middle of the shell. It is less highly col- 
ored than the last. There has been considerable con- 
fusion about the names of these species, but the pres- 
ent arrangement is believed to be correct. This spe- 
cies included Hanley's Donax navicula. 

Heterodo?2ax bimaculatus, d'Orb., the Spotted 
Heterodonax, differs greatly from the true Wedge- 
shell. It is oval in shape, rather flat, thin, and 
marked with fine, concentric lines. Its colors are 
very diverse, white and purple being the prevailing 
tints. This southern shell is usually less than an 
inch in length. 

In Figure 
64 we have a 
good repre- 
sentation of 
F ig. 54 tfagelus cali- 

fornianus, Conr., the Short Razor-clam. These crea- 
tures live in sandy mud in a perpendicular burrow. 
They have thin, gray shells, partly covered with a 
dull epidermis. It is a southern species, and the com- 




OTHER BIVALVE MOLLUSKS 89 

mon length of the shell is two or three inches. I once 
gathered quite a quantity of them in San Pedro har- 
bor. It is said that the wild ducks are particularly 
fond of this species, and in one instance, at least, 
the quacking of a flock of ducks revealed to a shell 
hunter the place to dig for the shells. The variety 
subteres, Conr., is small, compact, with violet rays 
and a very dark epidermis. It occurs with the com- 
mon form. 

Sanguinolaria nuttallii, Conr., Nuttall's Sanguino- 
laria, is a southern species, having a thin, oval shell, 
partly covered with a dark brown epidermis. The 
colors of the shell are white and lilac, the latter being 
sometimes beautifully rayed. One valve is much 
more bulging than the other, and the external liga- 
ment, just behind the beaks, is very prominent. The 
shell is two or three inches long. 

We now come to the Tellens, whose name is de- 
rived from a Greek word meaning a certain kind of 
mussel ; but when we use the term we think of a flat, 
thin bivalve shell with very small hinge-teeth and a 
deep pallial sinus. Many of the tropical Tellens 
are bright and beautiful, while those that live in our 
cooler waters are far less ornate. The first species 
that we will consider is named ^ellina bodegensis, 
Hinds, the Bode- 
ga Tellen. Fig- 
ure 6^ shows the 
inside appearance 
of a right valve. 
Externally the 
shell is creamy 




90 



WEST COAST SHELLS 





white in color, smooth, with a polished surface, and 
marked with fine, concentric lines. Old specimens 
show a marked tendency to thicken the shell from 
the inside. This species is found more abundantly 
in the north. 

Figure 66 
gives two 
views of 
tfellina but- 
Fig.66,xi(*): toni, Dall, 

Button's Tellen, which was formerly known as 
Angulus obtusus, Cpr. It may be found from Alaska 
to the Gulf of California. In the left-hand figure 
an internal, strengthening rib is seen just in front 
of the sinus. The shell is thin, white, and polished, 
but sometimes it has a greenish periostracum. 

^ellina carpenteri, Dall, Carpen- 
ter's Tellen, formerly known as Angu- 
lus variegatus, Cpr., resembles Figure 
67, but is smaller. Its range is nearly 
as great as that of the last species. It 
is pink and white, glossy, flat and narrow, hardly 
half an inch long. 

^ellina idae, 
Dall, Ida's Tel- 
len, is well shown 
in Figure 68. 
This rare and 
beautiful shell 
was named in 
1891 in honor of 
Mrs. Ida Shepard 
Oldroyd. It has 





Fig. 68 (*) 



OTHER BIVALVE MOLLUSKS 



91 




since been collected sparingly at Long Beach, San 
Pedro and Catalina Island. The color is white. The 
excellent figure represents an unusually large speci- 
men. 

^ellina tneropsis, Dall, the 
Pure Tellen, is shown in Figure 
69, which is much magnified. The 
shell is white, sometimes yellow- 
ish within, thin and delicate, 
somewhat angled and bent behind 
as shown in the cut. It is about Flg " 69, x ! ( * } 
half an inch long, and is found from San Pedro 
southward. 

tfellina lutea, Gray, the Muddy Tellen, comes 
from the very far north, being found in the neighbor- 
hood of Bering 
Strait. It is a fine 
large shell, and its 
general appearance is 
well shown in the 
two parts of Figure 
70. 

^ el Una modesta, 
Cpr., the Modest 
Tellen, is shown in 
Figure 67, on a pre- 
vious page, which is 
of the natural size. It 
is found in Puget 
Sound. The shell is 
thin, white and glossy, with ;i very deep pallia] sinus, 
and an internal ridge near the forward muscle-scar. 




Fig. 70, x g (*) 



92 



WEST COAST SHELLS 



^ellina salmonea, Cpr., the Salmon-colored Tel- 
len, is a very distinct little species, variable in color, 
but constant in form. The typical shell is quite 
thick, about half an inch long, nearly rectangular in 
form, the beaks being at one corner and the external 
ligament at one end. The surface is very smooth 
and glossy, but shows distinct lines of growth. It 
is nearly white on the outside, but within it is beau- 
tifully salmon-tinted. It is quite often found among 
the smaller beach shells at Pacific Grove. 

^ellina santarosae, 
Dall, the Santa Rosa 
(Island) Tellen, is 
shown in Figure 71. It 
considerably resembles 
^ellina bodegensis^ but 
is thinner, flatter, and 
has different details of 
sculpturing. It is found 
near the Santa Barbara 
Fig.7i,xi(*) Islands. 

At various points around San Francisco Bay there 
are great heaps of rubbish, which mark the site of 
old Indian camping grounds. They are always situ- 
ated close to some spring or brook, the presence of 
which is now indicated by a growth of willows. 
The mounds are of various shapes and sizes, and 
often cover as much ground as would suffice for a 
good-sized garden. These mounds are largely made 
up of old shells, ashes and charcoal dust. This 
shows that the Indians had their fires there, and that 
they threw away the rubbish which was left from 




OTHER BIVALVE MOLLUSKS 



93 



their meals, and then repeated the operation on the 
slowly rising pile. It has been found that some of 
the old shell heaps are now partly under water, indi- 
cating that formerly the shore was a little higher 
than it is at the present time. Large quantities of 
the old shells have been removed from time to time 
for various purposes, particularly for the use of hens 
and chickens in poultry yards. It is quite remark- 
able that the refuse of the old Indian feasts should 
become the basis for modern enterprise in the way of 
producing food. The old clam shells are made to 
re-appear in the form of fresh egg shells. 

It is interesting 
to examine these 
old "kitchen mid- 
dens," and deter- 
mine what species 
of shell-fish former- 
ly abounded in the 
adjacent mud flats. 
I have found vari- 
ous kinds of shells, 

but by far the most abundant ones are those of the 
species named Macoma nasata, Conr., the Bent- 
Nosed Macoma, Figure 72. Although so abundant 
then, this species seems to be dying out, and its place 
is rapidly being taken by the Rhode Island clam, 
Mya arenaria, which we will presently consider, 
but not a specimen of that shell is found in the 
mounds. Macoma nasuta is a common species on 
the Coast, reaching from Kamchatka to Mexico. It 
inhabits muddy flats, burrowing quite deeply, and 




Fig. 72 



94 WEST COAST SHELLS 

reaching the water by its two small, red siphons. 
The shell is smooth, flat and thin, rounded in front, 
but narrowed and bent to one side behind. The hinge- 
teeth are small, and in one valve the pallial sinus 
reaches to the forward muscle-scar. The color of 
the shell is white, and its common length is two 
inches. 

Macoma inquinata, Desh., the Polluted Macoma, 
is a variable mollusk, resembling a degraded form of 
the last species. It can be distinguished, however, 
because the pallial sinus does not touch the forward 
muscle-scar in either valve. The shell is white, and 
it measures about an inch and a half in length. This 
species ranges from the far north down to Monterey 
on this side of the ocean, and to Japan on the eastern 
border. 

Macoma balthica, Linn., var. in- 
conspicua, Brod. & Sby., the Little 
Macoma, is well shown in Figure 73. 
The little shell is thin, flat, and either 
white or pink. The figure represents 
a good-sized specimen, though it sometimes grows to 
be still larger. It is a lover of cold water, and is 
found on both sides of the Pacific Ocean, and also 
in the Atlantic, particularly in the Baltic Sea. On 
the California coast it reaches as far south as Mon- 
terey. 

Macoma inflatula, Dall, the Inflated Macoma, 
resembles a young M. nasuta, but it is thin, rather 
inflated, strongly bent, and has a pointed pos- 
terior and a greenish epidermis. It is a northern 
species, but is found in deep water farther to the 
south. 




OTHER BIVALVE MOLLTJSKS 9$ 




Fig. 74, x 



Maco?na sitkana, Dall, the Sitka Macoma, is 
shown in Figure 74. The shell is thin and white, 
while the other features are well brought out in the 
engravings. As its name indicates, its home is in 
Alaska, reaching northward from Sitka. 




Fig. 75 



Macoma secta, Conrad, the Giant Macoma, is 
shown in Figure 75. It is the largest and finest spe- 
cies of the whole genus. The general form of the 
shell is oval, but the posterior end is suddenly con- 
tracted. Thin and glossy, with some epidermis 
around the edges. Pallia] sinus large, ligament 
strong and broad, making a conspicuous external 



96 WEST COAST SHELLS 

feature. This noble species reaches from British 
Columbia to Mexico. 

Macoma indent at a^ Cpr., the Indented Macoma, 
is a southern shell resembling a small specimen of 
the last species, but the edge of the shell near the 
posterior end is indented and beaked. 

A very pretty shell found far to the south is 
named Metis alt a, Conr., the Yellow Metis, formerly 
known as Lutricola alta. The shell is round oval, 
wrinkled at the siphon end, and marked with fine but 
distinct concentric lines. The ligament area is 
depressed. Externally the color is whitish or brown- 
ish, while the inside is glossy white, suffused with 
a bright yellow flush in fresh specimens. Its length 
is about two inches. 

While the last shell was very pretty, we now 
have one that far exceeds it in beauty, namely, Se- 
mele decisa, Conr., the Clipped Semele. The first 
name is that of the mythical mother of Bacchus, 
while the second refers to the short posterior end, 
which looks as if it had been cut off with a pair of 
scissors. The shell is nearly round, rather heavy, 
the ligament internal and lodged in an oblique pit, 
and the pallial sinus is high and oval. The outside 
of the shell is coarsely wrinkled, and is brownish in 
color. The interior, where the beauty resides, is 
finely polished, looking like bright porcelain, and is 
more or less tinged with purple, particularly around 
the edges. Grown specimens are two inches or more 
in diameter. This shell is found in southern waters, 
as might be expected. 

Semele rupium, Sby., the Semele-of-the-Rocks, is 



OTHER BIVALVE MOLLUSKS 



97 



smaller, nearly circular, white, with a pink hinge 
area. I have found pretty specimens as far north 
as Monterey. 

Semele pulckra, Sby., the Beautiful Semele, has 
a small, thin, oval shell, with crowded concentric 
sculpture and radiating lines at the sides. This is 
a southern species, but the variety montereyi, Anld., 
is found farther north, as its name indicates. It is 
less than an inch in length, oval, thin, ventricose, 
the beaks quite posterior to the middle of the shell; 
the pallial sinus is very large, being rounded and 
expanded interiorly. 

Semele calif ornica, Ads., the California Semele, is 
a southern species, very rarely found. The shell 
is about an inch in length. It is the same as the 
yellow Semele flavescens, of Gould. 

Semele rubro-picta, Dall, the Rose-painted Se- 
mele, is thick, convex, white, with rose rays on the 
outside, and marked with heavy, interrupted con- 
centric ridges and obsolete radial striation. The 
surface is not granular. This is a southern species, 
found near San Diego. It is very probable that 
there are other species of this difficult genus, that are 
not yet described. 

Cumingia californica, Conr., 
the California Cuming-shell, is 




shown in Figure 76. It is some- 
what triangular in outline, with 
the front end rounded and the 
rear end narrowed and slightly 
twisted. The lines of growth are very distinct, form- 
ing concentric ridges. The shape of the shell varies 



Fig. 76 



98 WEST COAST SHELLS 

considerably in different specimens. Pallial sinus 
large, color white, length about an inch. It lives 
from Monterey southward. 

Cooperella subdiaphana, Cpr., the White Cooper- 
shell. This species has a thin, white, glistening 
shell, which appears quite swollen. The hinge-teeth 
are central, and the short ligament is situated almost 
between the prominent beaks. The length of this 
southern shell is about half an inch. 

Cooperella "scintillaeformis, Cpr., the Thin 
Cooper-shell, is another southern species. The 
shell is very thin and brittle, about the same length 
as that of the last species, but less swollen. 

Corbula luteola, Cpr., the Yellow Basket-shell, is 
a small species found freely in the vicinity of San 
Diego. The whole shell, which is shaped somewhat 
like a small Donax, is hardly a quarter of an inch 
in length, but it is quite strong and is well marked 
with lines of growth. The edges of a full-grown 
specimen turn inward like the rim of a paper box. 
The color is ashy yellow. The ligament is internal, 
lodged in a small pit, the pallial sinus is small, and 
the shells are angled at one corner. 

A T eara peclinala, Cpr., the Dipper-shell, is a very 
small affair, nearly globular, with about twelve 
prominent radiating ribs. The posterior end is 
drawn out into a small tube, so that each valve looks 
like a small dipper. Southern, 6 mm. long. 

We now come to the Myacidae, a small family, 
but distinguished as containing one of the most im- 
portant species on the whole list, if we think of the 
mollusks only as food for man. My a arenaria, Linn., 



OTHER BIVALVE MOLLUSKS 



99 



the Common Mya, or Soft-shelled Clam, was known 
in Europe and on the Atlantic Coast long ago, and 
was highly esteemed as an article of food, whether 
it was fried, steamed, or made the basis of a chow- 
der. It was unknown in San Francisco Bay until 
the year 1874, when a few specimens were discovered 
near Oakland. They were supposed to be novelties 
and were named Mya Hemphilli, Newc, in honor of 
the veteran collector, Mr. Henry Hemphill. In a 
little while, however, its true nature became known 
and conchologists realized that the Atlantic Mya 
had crossed the continent, doubtless with seed oysters 
from Chesapeake Bay, and had settled down in the 
western waters. Unlike the aristocratic oyster, 
which propagates but slowly with us, the more ple- 
beian clam began to fill the mud-flats on both sides 
of the bay with its burrows and in a few years its 
descendants were numbered by the millions. This 
species has been planted at Santa Cruz in the 
south, and in Shoalwater Bay in the north, where 
it is a great success; also in Coos Bay and elsewhere 
along the coast of Oregon and Washington. 

Although not quite so delicious as the oyster, the 
Mya is an excel- 
lent food-moll usk, 
and great numbers 
of these clams are 
sold in San Fran- 
cisco and Oakland. 
Its domains are not 
fenced in like the 
oyster fields, but it 




100 WEST COAST SHELLS 

may be gathered by anyone who will take the 
trouble to dig. Figure 77 gives a view of the 
inside of a left valve, showing the spoon-like hinge- 
tooth, the muscle-scars, and the pallial sinus. The 
valves are rather thin and brittle, gaping at the ends, 
and the edges are covered with a gray epidermis. The 
common length of grown specimens is three inches. 

My a truncata, Linn., the Blunt Mya resembles the 
last, but the siphon end is truncated, as if it had been 
chopped off. This species also lives in the northern 
Atlantic and is reckoned as circumboreal, coming 
down on the west side of the continent as far as 
Puget Sound. 

Cryptomya califomica, Conr., the False Mya, is 
found at various places all along the coast. The 
shell is elliptical, slightly gaping, nearly smooth, 
though sometimes marked with faint lines. The 
sinus is small or obsolete, and the right valve is 
provided with a large, spoon-shaped hinge-tooth, 
on which is the ligament. The shell is rather thin, 

whitish, with an ashy 
epidermis ; its length 
is an inch or a little 
more. 

Figure 78 gives us 
a good idea of Platyo- 
don c anc ell atu s, 
Fi ^- 78 Conr., the Flat- 

toothed Clam. It closely resembles the Mya, but its 
broad hinge-tooth is not so large ; moreover the valves 
are much thicker and firmer, and are greatly bulged. 
The shell is white or gray, ,and the length is two or 




OTHER BIVALVE MOLLUSKS 101 

three inches. I found them abundant at Bolinas, 
and they reach as far south as San Diego. 

The shell of the little Saxicava arctica, Linn., the 
Arctic Saxicave, is small, thin, wrinkled, and irregu- 
lar. The beaks are near the front of the shell, which 
is abruptly terminated. Ligament small, external, 
behind the beaks. Color ashy white, length from 6 
to 12 mm. It is found on the holdfasts of kelp and 
in similar situations. By some this form is consid- 
ered to be but a variety of S. pholadis, Linn., a small 
species which has been dredged in San Pedro Bay. 
Saxicava rugosa, Linn., the Rough Saxicave, occurs 




Fig. 79 



in the far north, and also as far south as San Diego. 
I believe all three are but varieties of one species. 

Fanopaa generosa, Gld., the Giant Panopaea, is 
shown in Figure 79. This huge mollusk, which lives 



102 WEST COAST SHELLS 

in northern waters, is the king of all the burrowing 
clams. A pair of shells, kindly sent to me by friends 
in the vicinity of Puget Sound, measures seven and a 
half inches in length. The creature burrows to a 
depth of two feet or more. The valves are oblong, 
rather flat, and are marked with decided lines of 
growth. They gape widely where the siphons enter. 
The left valve has a sharp hinge-tooth, resembling 
a short horn. The shells are of a dull white color 
without, but are pearly and shining within. In the 
north this great creature is sometimes known by its 
Indian name, Goeduck. 

Panomya ampla, Dall, the Ample Panomya, is an 
Alaskan shell, coarse, chalky white in color, with a 
black, tarry epidermis which falls off. The shell is 
nearly square, and is some three inches across. It 
gapes widely and does not fully cover the living 
animal. 

The mollusks which are now to be considered be- 
long to the Solemda. They include what are popu- 
larly known as the Razor-shells, because most of 
them are long and narrow and in shape somewhat 
resemble the handle of a razor. Most of them are 
covered with a glossy epidermis, making them look 
as if they had received a coat of varnish. Some of 
the Latin names that have been given to them refer 
to bean-pods, which the shells resemble even more 
than they resemble razors. 

Siliqua patula, Dixon, the Flat Razor-shell, is 
shown in Figure 80. Beautiful examples of this 
shell are found on the Oregon coast and farther 



OTHER BIVALVE MOLLUSKS 



103 




north, though it is found to some extent much farther 
to the south, probably in deeper water. Broken shell 
used to be washed up on the Cliff House beach in 
San Francisco. 
As this shell 



was first fig- 
ured long ago 
I will quote 
its description 
from the 
words of the 
discoverer, 
Capt. George 

Dixon, who wrote an exceedingly interesting book 
entitled "A Voyage Round the World," which was 
published in London, A. D. 1789. This extract is 
said by Dr. P. P. Carpenter to be probably the "first 
description on record of mollusks from the Pacific 
shores of N. America by the original collector." 

"At the mouth of Cook's River are many species of shell-fish, 
most of them, I presume, nondescript. For a repast our men pre- 
ferred a large species of the Solen genus, which they got in 
quantity, and were easily discovered by their spouting up the 
water as the men walked over the sands where they inhabited : 
as I suppose it to be a new kind I have given a figure of it in 
the annexed plate. Tis a thin brittle shell, smooth within and 
without: one valve is furnished with two front and two lateral 
teeth; the other has one front and one side tooth, which slip 
in between the others in the opposite valve: from the teeth in 
each valve proceeds a strong rib, which extends to above half- 
way across the shell and gradually loses itself towards the edge, 
which is smooth and sharp. The color of the outside is white, 
circularly, but faintly zoned with violet, ami is covered with a 
smooth yellowish-brown epidermis, which appears darkest where 
the zones are: the inside is white, slightly zoned, and tinted with 



104 WEST COAST SHELLS 

violet and pink. The animal, as in all species of this genus, 
protrudes be}^ond the ends of the shell very much, and is 
exceeding good food." 

There are several varieties of this species, includ- 
ing var. alta, B. & S., which lives in the far north; 
it is short and broad, with a straight rib. Var. 
niittallii, Conr., is found in Alaska and also in Cali- 
fornia as far south as Monterey; the shell is very 
straight, brilliantly polished, and has a very oblique 
rib. 

Siliqua lucida, Conr., the Bright Razor-shell, lives 
from Monterey to San Diego. According to Dr. 
Dall it was confounded by Carpenter with the young 
of the last mentioned variety. The shell is small, 
fragile, and has a short, narrow, and nearly perpen- 
dicular rib, or callus. 

Sol en sicarius, 
Gld., the Blunt 
Razor - shell, 
shown in Figure 
81, is short, 
Fig. 8i slightly curved, 

and truncated in 
front as if it had been chopped square off. The 
white shell is covered with a glossy, yellowish epi- 
dermis. This species ranges from Vancouver Island 
to San Pedro, Cal. 

Solen rosaceus, Cpr., the Rosy Razor-shell, lives 
only in the south. It is two inches long and less than 
half an inch wide, and resembles a small flattened 
tube. The shell is straight, rosy white in color, and 
is covered with a glossy, horn-colored epidermis. 




OTHER BIVALVE MOLLUSKS 105 

Ensis californicus, Dall, the California Razor- 
shell, is a rare species, found from Monterey south- 
ward. It is delicate, narrow, slender and curved. 
Length, about two inches. 

The members of the Mactridg^ which we are now 
to consider, may be distinguished by the triangular 
pit for the cartilage, which is situated in the midst 
of the hinge-teeth. The shells are mostly quite thin, 
with sharp edges, and are often partly or wholly 
covered with a thin epidermis. 

Mactra nasuta, Gld., the 
Beaked Mactra, resembles 
Figure 82, a figure which 
shows the general appear- 
ance of several species of 
this group. The shell is 
of moderate size, and is 
scattered widely along the coast. 

Mactra calif 'arnica, Conr., the California Mactra, 
has a rather small shell, somewhat depressed behind 
the furrowed beaks, which are about midway be- 
tween the ends of the shell. It is from an inch to 
an inch and a half in length. 

Mactra dolabriformis, Conr., the Mattock Mac- 
tra, occurs from San Diego southward, and so 
scarcely comes into our list. The shell is com- 
pressed, and is of a polished white under a dull 
brown epidermis. In the hinge-area the ligament is 
separated from the cartilage pit by a shelly plate. 
This fine shell grows to a length of three and a half 
inches. 




106 



WEST COAST SHELLS 



Spisula polymyma^ var. alaskana, Dall, the Alaska 
Mactra, resembles Mactra calif ornica, but is larger. 
It is found about Icy Cape, but it comes southward 
as far as Neah Bay. 




Fig. 83, x \ 

Spisula catilliformis, Conr., the Dish-shell, for- 
merly known as St and ell a Californica, is shown in 
Figure 83. This is the fine large shell which is said 
to exist from Neah Bay to San Diego. I have col- 
lected large specimens at Long Beach, Cal. The 
shell itself is thin, whitish, and is covered with a 
gray, wrinkled epidermis. The cartilage pit is large 
and its shape is triangular. The pallial sinus reaches 
nearly to the middle of the shell. These great Dish- 
shells sometimes reach a length of over five inches, 
and can hardly be mistaken for any other species, 
except the next. 

Spisula heniphillii, Dall, Hemphill's Mactra, is a 
rare species occurring in San Pedro Bay and at San 
Diego. It resembles the last species, but grows even 



OTHER BIVALVE MOLLUSKS 107 

larger, a specimen before me measuring fully six 
inches in length. The white shell is covered with a 
brown periostracum, which in young shells is pret- 
tily lined and almost glossy, while at the posterior 
end it is decidedly ridged and wrinkled. The front 
end of this shell is narrower than that of the last 
species, and the pallial sinus is smaller. 

Spisula f ale at a, Gld., the Falcate Mactra, has a 
shell of moderate size, resembling Mactra calif or- 
nica, but it has a narrower anterior end and a smaller 
sinus. The shell is glossy, thin, and rather flat. It 
is found in British Columbia, but it extends far 
southward. 

Labiosa undulata, Gld., the Wavy Rseta, is a very 
distinct, though rather rare southern species. The 
hinge resembles that of the Mactras and shows the 
triangular pit plainly. The outline is not very dif- 
ferent from that of Figure 83, but the shell is very 
thin, not merely at the edges but throughout its 
whole extent, and it is very decidedly marked with 
concentric ridges, which even appear on the inner 
.surface. Most clams as they grow not only add 
to the edge of the shell but also thicken the older 
parts from the inside, but the Wavy Rseta does noth- 
ing oi the kind, and it is no wonder that good speci- 
mens of so large and so thin a shell are quite rare. 
Near the beaks it is much inflated. Externally it 
is light brown or ashy, and when at all thickened 
the interior is white. Three or four inches is the 
common length of grown specimens. 

The last member of this group has the largest 
shell of all, sometimes reaching a remarkable length, 



108 WEST COAST SHELLS 

while specimens of six inches are not uncommon. 
Its name is Schizotharus nuttallii, Conr., the Wash- 
ington Clam. This huge mollusk burrows deeply in 
the mud, and is therefore rather hard to capture. It 
makes an excellent chowder, however, and a very 
few clams are sufficient for the wants of a large 
family. 

The shell is more or less oblong, bulged, rather 
thin, and it gapes widely at the end where the long 
siphons pass out. The sinus, as might be supposed, 
is very broad and deep. The hinge-teeth are small, 
while the cartilage pit is large and deep. The white 
shell is covered with a thin epidermis. This species 
delights in muddy bays, and is found along the 
whole coast. 

Passing now to a very different group of shells 
we come first to thracia curt a, Conr., the Short 
Thracia. In form and markings this shell resembles 
Figure 43, though it is somewhat oblong and also 
wrinkled at the rear end of the valves. Ligament 
external, hinge-teeth small, sinus shallow, length 
from an inch to two inches, thracia undulata, 
Conr., the Wavy Thracia, also called plicata, is a 

rare species that is larger 
and thinner than the last. 
Figure 84 represents the 
inside of the left valve of 
Periploma plants cula, Sby., 
the Silver Lantern-shell. 

Fig. 84 

This is a pretty species 
easily recognized by its peculiar spoon-like hinge- 
teeth, one of which is found in each valve. Oblong, 




OTHER BIVALVE MOLLUSKS 



109 



beaks near the posterior end, sinus small, right valve 
inflated, left valve flattened. The shell is beauti- 
fully white and smooth, with fine lines of growth, 
and the interior is shining and silvery. It is a south- 
ern species, and it grows to a length of two inches, 
though most specimens are shorter. 

P eri pi o m a discus, 
Stearns, the Round Lan- 
tern-shell, is well shown 
in Figure 85. This fine 
species was discovered at 
Long Beach, Cal., not 
many years ago, and for 
a time specimens were 
very rare. Afterwards 
a considerable number 
were washed up on the 
beach, though it is by no 
means a common shell. 
The valves are white, ex- 
ceedingly thin and frag- 
ile, almost circular in 
outline, though with one 

square corner. The diameter of a large specimen is 
nearly two inches. 

A delicate little shell, of 
which Figure 86 represents 
a large specimen, found at 
various points along the 
coast and also in San Fran- 
cisco Bay, is named Lyons/ j calif ornica^ Conr., the 
California Lyonsia. The shell is bulged at one 




Fig. 85 (*) 





110 WEST COAST SHELLS 

end, while at the other it is narrow, thin and crooked. 

The outer coat shows many concentric striae, but 

this is easily rubbed off, revealing the inner layer, 

which is quite pearly. 

Lionsiella alaskana, Dall, the 
Alaska Lyonsiella, is shown 
in Figure 87. The specimen 
here represented was dredged 
from deep water in the Gulf 
of Alaska. The figure is some- 
what enlarged, but it shows 
the main external features of 

Fig. 87, x I (*) 

this thin and delicate shell. 
As you walk among the rocks when the tide is 
out you can often find many strange forms of life. 
On the top of the rocks, so as to be exposed to the 
sunlight, are masses of seaweed, . often harboring 
and concealing various living things. In the caves 
under the rocks grow quite different animals. Some 
of them can walk or crawl, and are comparatively 
easy to classify, while others form mats or cushions 
and seem to have little in common with ordinary 
animal forms. One of these thin mats, often bril- 
liantly colored, is really a kind of sponge. Another 
and thicker one, yellowish in color, smooth and firm 
to the touch, is really a mass of low animal forms 
and is known as a compound Ascidian, or group of 
Sea-bottles. Imbedded in these strange groups of 
creatures may sometimes be found specimens of 
Mytilimeria nuttallii, Conr., the Sea-bottle Shell. 
In shape it resembles an inflated bladder with the 
spiral beaks at one end. The shell is very thin, 



OTHER BIVALVE MOLLUSKS 111 

white, and covered with a brown epidermis. There 
is an oscicle, or little detached piece of shell, under 
the hinge. The greatest diameter of the shell is 
about one inch. This is a singular instance of a thin 
shell deriving protection from the bodies of the ani- 
mals by which it is concealed. 

Our next species is named Entodesma saxicola, 
Baird, the Rock Entodesma. It is a singular crea- 
ture, living in holes of various shapes and taking 
whatever form seems most convenient. The shell is 
somewhat oblong or pear-shaped, bulging at the 
hinge end, gaping beneath, and prolonged around 
the siphons into an irregular process consisting 
chiefly of epidermis. Internally the shell is white, 
while externally it is very rough and unsightly, being 
partly covered with a brown periostracum. When 
dry it is usually more or less bent or broken, owing 
to the unequal shrinkage of the hard parts and the 
covering. A large oscicle covers the hinge internally. 
This is especially a northern species. 

The southern shell, Entodesma inflata, Conr., the 
Puffed Entodesma, resembles the last, but is smaller, 
thinner, and more irregular, and is composed largely 
of epidermis. It is narrow in front, wider and thin- 
ner behind, and is about an inch or less in length. 

V erticordia novemcostata, Ad. & Rve., the Nine- 
ribbed Verticordia, has a minute shell, only 4 or ; 
mm. high. In outline it is nearly square, and from 
the beak near one corner run about nine prominent 
ribs. The shell is pearly within. It is found near 
San Pedro. Dr. Carpenter considers it identical 
with the Chinese shell, V. ornata^ lTOrb. 



112 WEST COAST SHELLS 

CUdiophora punctata, Cpr., the Dotted Pandora, 
is a rare shell of very unusual shape, somewhat ob- 
long and beaked. Instead of being inflated it is 
very flat and compressed. The valves are thin and 
silvery, while within they are marked with many 
little pits or dots. It is somewhat over an inch in 
length. From Victoria to San Diego. 

The last family of the Pelecypods is that of the 
Boring-shells, of which there are two divisions. 
The first of these include the Piddocks, which force 
their way into clay, shell, or rock; while the second 
division, the Teredos, work chiefly in wood. 

F hot as pacific a, Stearns, the Western Piddock, is 
the first species to be mentioned. The shell is thin 
and delicate, long and cylindrical, marked with 
wavy, concentric ridges and faint radiating lines. 
The sculpturing is not sharply divided into two sec- 
tions as it is in some of the following species. With- 
in each valve, beneath the hinge, is a slender spoon 
of shell, very narrow and delicate; its use is not 
fully known. On the outside, just above the liga- 
ment, is a long protecting plate with straight sides. 
This auxiliary valve, as it is called, is curved in 
front and straight behind. The valves gape widely 
at the ends. The length of the white shells of this 
species is about two and a half inches. The creature 
burrows in mud and clay. It was first found on the 
Alameda side of San Francisco Bay, but has since 
been reported from the southern part of California. 

Pholadidea penita, Conr., the Common Piddock, 
is shown in Figure 88. While it is often much smal- 
ler than the picture, specimens are sometimes found 




OTHER BIVALVE MOLLUSKS 113 

that are more than twice as long. Like 
the other Piddocks, the forward part of 
the shell is rounded and rasp-like, 
while the latter part is narrow and 
smooth. 

A triangular plate covers the hinge- 
area, and the valves end in epidermal 
flaps or scales. It is commonly found 
in burrows which it constructs for itself 
in the softer rocks which occur here and there all 
along our coast. In young specimens the forward 
end gapes widely to allow the strong foot to press 
against the side of the burrow and thus assist in 
turning the shell, whose sharp points probably wear 
into the rock, though just the method by which it 
bores is not clearly known. As it grows older it 
seems to realize that it has gone far enough, and 
closes the front of the opening in the valves with a 
wall of shell, making them appear nearly round. 

Pholadidea parva, Tryon, the Little Piddock, is 
a very small species, which some consider as a re- 
duced variety of the last. It burrows into Haliotis 
shells. 

Pholadidea ovoidea, Gld., the Oval Piddock, is a 
small, oval form, resembling in shape a small Zir~ 
ph<za crispata, whose forward end is filled out with 
curved shell. 

Pholadidea darwinii, Sby., Darwin's Piddock, is 
a little borer found in rocks. The front of the shell 
is open and circular, while the latter part is pro- 
longed into a narrow, flattened tube, shaped like a 
duck's bill. The shell is marked with striae, and is 




114 WEST COAST SHELLS 

divided into two parts by a narrow constriction. 
The shell is whitish in color like that of all the pid- 
docks, and it is only about half an inch long. 

Figure 89 gives a 
good idea of the shell 
of the Rough Pid- 
dock, Zirphtza cris- 
pata, Linn. This fine 
borer is able to force 
a tunnel into the 
hardest of blue clay, 
doubtless by means of its sharp rasp. There is no 
accessory plate over the hinge-area in this species, 
but it is protected by a membrane, and in front of 
the umbones the valves are reflexed. The shell is 
thin, white, and very hard, and its length is from 
two to four inches. This species is widely dis- 
tributed, being found in both great oceans. 

It is said that all of the piddocks give out a phos- 
phorescent light when they are alive, and that this 
light may be seen by carefully removing specimens 
from their homes in the rocks and placing them in 
a pan of sea water. Great care is necessary to pre- 
vent the creatures from receiving injury, as the 
shells are very delicate. Some of my younger 
readers may have an opportunity to experiment in 
this line and watch in the darkness for signs of light 
from the living animals. It is possible, also, that 
some one may even detect them in the act of boring 
their holes. The sea is very large, and there are op- 
portunities for a bright boy or girl to observe much 
that is reallv valuable. 



OTHER BIVALVE MOLLUSKS 



115 




Fig. 90 



The great California Piddock, 
Parapholas calif ornica, Conr., is 
represented in Figure 90, which 
well illustrates its main features. 
The upper end of the shell is com- 
posed mainly of large scales of epi- 
dermis. Near the line of union of 
the two valves there are accessory 
plates, long, straight, and smooth. 
The shells are white, rather deli- 
cate, and are three or more inches 
in length. The rocky dust which 
the animal obtains in the process of 
excavation he uses in building up 
a strong, conical chimney, which protects the 
siphons. 

Martesia intercallata, Cpr., the Shell-boring Pid- 
dock, is a very small borer, from the southern fauna, 
which is sometimes found in large shells like that of 
the Haliotis. Its presence sometimes greatly dis- 
turbs the occupant of the shell, especially if its bur- 
row has been carried nearly through the pearly lin- 
ing. In that case a knob is built up as a defense 
against the intruder, and these knobs, or "blisters," 
as they are often called, may be cut out and set as 
jewels. Occasionally, however, the borer goes clear 
through the shell, and then there is trouble for all 
concerned. The valves of the Shell-boring Piddock 
gape widely in front, and the outer entrance to its 
burrow is quite small. 

There is a very singular and very destructive mol- 
lusk, which lives especial ly in San Francisco Bay, 



116 WEST COAST SHELLS 

that is known by the name of Xylotria setacea, 
Tryon, though it is commonly called the Teredo, or 
Ship- worm. Its great end in life seems to be to bore 
as long a hole as possible ; not for the reason that it 
desires the wood for food, but simply for the fun of 
the boring. 

The young of this mollusk, like those of many 
others, are free swimmers, quite unlike their adult 
parents. After a brief and sportive life in the water 
the little creature finds a post or a piece of floating 
wood and begins to bore. As he advances, he lines 
the hole with a tube of shell, and if he nears another 
hole he turns to one side and bores on through un- 
disturbed wood. The openings on the outside of the 
wood, where the little creature entered, are so small 
that they are hardly noticed, and so it often happens 
that the timbers of a wharf may appear perfectly 
sound, when in fact they are completely honey- 
combed. 

The valves of the shell are at the very front of 
the tube, and are nearly spherical in shape, though 
they gape widely at both ends. The front ends of 
the shells are very beautifully sculptured, though 
the markings are so fine that a microscope is needed 
in examining them. The creature also has two oar- 
shaped, shelly appendages, which close the external 
opening of the burrow, and perhaps perform other 
duties. The globular shell of the Teredo is about 
half an inch in diameter, and the pens or oars are 
some two inches in length. 

To provide against the rapid destruction that is 
wrought by the Teredo, many precautions are taken 



OTHER BIVALVE MOLLUSKS 117 

by builders. The bottoms of wooden ships are cov- 
ered with copper, and the timbers used in building 
wharves are either soaked in poison before using or 
sheathed with metal. A still better plan is to build 
the piers entirely of concrete, or to cover the wooden 
piles with a thick coating of cement. Unless some 
such precautions are used the woodwork of a wharf 
may be ruined in the brief space of one or two years. 
Much good, on the other hand, is done by the borers, 
for they tend to break up the timbers of old wrecks, 
and to cause obstructing ledges of rock to crumble 
and disappear. 

Xylotria stutchburryi, Jeff., the Little Teredo, has 
a very small shell, of which the valves are white and 
triangular, while the pens are minute and club- 
shaped. 

This closes our description of the two-valved mol- 
lusks. Very much concerning the details has been 
left unwritten, and for every observer there remain 
plenty of interesting facts, which are only waiting 
for some patient discoverer. 



CHAPTER VI 

UNIVALVE MOLLUSKS 

A few years ago I visited the pretty little town of 
Bolinas, situated on the first bay to the north of the 
Golden Gate. From the shore there runs out a ledge 
of rock far into the ocean, which is commonly known 
as Duxbury Reef. One morning when the tide was 
low I went far out on this reef and found that it 
furnishes an excellent home for many living crea- 
tures. Turning back the masses of olive-green sea- 
weed I found a considerable number of mollusks 
with shells like the one shown in Figure 91 . It is not 
a very common species for California, but is more 
abundant in the north. 

The shell* of a full grown specimen is an inch and 
a half long. It is spindle-shaped, that is, it is largest 
in the middle and tapers towards each end. Various 
parts of the shell have received names, and as this 
is the first species which we are to consider which 
belongs to the great class of the Gasteropods we will 
now notice these names. The Gasteropod shell is 
really a long tube, coiled in a spiral form. This 
fact may not seem so evident in this species as in 
certain others, but it is the plan of the shell neverthe- 
less, and a knowledge of this fact will help to an- 
swer many troublesome questions. 

The opening to this tube is called the aperture, 
and it is named ap in the figure. As you face the. 



UNIVALVE MOLLUSKS 



119 




shell you notice that this aperture is on the side next 
to your right hand. This is true of most shells, 
which are therefore called dextral; though a few, 
which turn the other way, as in Figure 102, are 
known as left-handed, or sinistral shells. 

The upper part of the shell 
is known as the spire, marked 
sp, of which the very top, a, 
is the apex, while each turn of 
the spire is a whorl, the larg- 
est of which, b. w., is the body 
whorl. The spiral groove be- 
tween the whorls is the suture, 
marked s. The central post, 
c, is the columella, while the 
central opening, u, is the um- 
bilicus. The little open tube 

marked ca is called the canal, and the outer edge of 
the aperture, o. /., is the outer lip. The inner lip 
in this specimen is grown to the columella and does 
not appear, though in some shells, as shown in Fig- 
ure 156, it is very evident. Many shells have no 
canal, and in most instances we judge that the ani- 
mal which has such a shell is herbiverous, while those 
with canals are carnivorous. 

Lines of growth run parallel to the edge of the 
outer lip, while spiral lines run around the shell and 
cut the lines of growth. Varices are enlarged por- 
tions of the shell, parallel to the lines of growth, 
while the operculum is a kind of door that the ani- 
mal pulls up to the aperture, after he has withdrawn 
into his shell. With these few simple definitions, 



Fig. 91 



120 WEST COAST SHELLS 

we are ready to describe almost any of the numerous 
shells that we are to consider in the remaining part 
of the book. 

The name of the species whose shell is shown in 
Figure 91 is Chrysodomus dirus, Rve., the Dark 
Chrysodome. The clean shell is of a dark liver color, 
though this is often obscured by an ashy powder, 
giving it a dingy appearance. 

§As we have considered this type of the uni- 
valve shells out of its natural order, we will 
now turn our attention to what is properly 
Fig. 92 our first species of the great class of the Gas- 
teropoda, named Action punctoc&latus, Cpr., 
the Barrel-shell, shown in Figure 92. It is a pretty 
little thing, which is sometimes found washed up on 
the beach, and at certain times of the year it may 
be found alive in the tide-pools where it has gone to 
lay its eggs. Its length is about half an inch. There 
is a small fold on the columella and numerous re- 
volving ribs. The surface is pure white, with two 
series of narrow black bands. I have seen dead 
specimens of this shell at Pacific Grove, and have 
found it alive on the shores of Dead Man's Island, 
near San Pedro. 

Action painei, Dall, Paine's Actseon. This is 
one of the new species secured by Lowe and Paine, 
while dredging near Avalon, Catalina Island. The 
length of the shell is 8 mm., and it may be dis- 
tinguished from the last species by its short spire, 
stouter form, and the absence of color bands. 

^omatina culcitella, Gld., the Pillow Lathe-shell, 
is shown in Figure 93. It has a cylindrical body as 



UNIVALVE MOLLUSKS 121 

if it had been turned in a lathe, and it cer- 
tainly is dainty enough for a fairy's bolster. 
The color is brownish, and fresh specimens 
are banded with numerous microscopic striae. 
Large specimens are nearly an inch long. Fig. 93 

^ornatina harpa, Dall, the Harp Lathe- 
shell, is smaller, being about six millimeters in 
length. The color is white, and it is easily dis- 
tinguished by the presence of longitudinal grooves 
and lines on the upper half of the last whorl. 

^ornatina eximia, Baird, the Excellent Lathe-shell, 
resembles Figure 93, though it is smaller. It differs 
in having a more depressed spire, a longer and nar- 
rower aperture, and a smaller plait on the colum- 
ella. It is found in Puget Sound, and also at San 
Diego. 

^ornatina cerealis, Gld., the Grain Lathe-shell, 
has a minute white shell, less than a quarter of an 
inch in length. It is quite solid, and has a spire 
rounded at the apex. 

Cylichna alba, Brown, the White Cup-shell, is an- 
other of these small species of shells which resemble 
little rolls of cloth. This species has a white shell, 
10 mm. long, which is somewhat cylindrical and 
which tapers towards either end. It occurs on the 
coast of southern California and also on the Atlantic 
shores. 

Volvula cylindrical Cpr., the Roll-shell, resembles 
the last species, but is somewhat flattened in the mid- 
dle and has an extended umbilical point, "Like a 
grain of rice, pointed at one end." — Cpr. 

The fine shell shown in Figure 04 is named Bulla 



122 



WEST COAST SHELLS 




Fig. 94 



gouldiana, Gould's Bubble-shell. 
It is thin, polished and mottled, 
resembling a large bird's egg. The 
spire is depressed, or more properly 
speaking, the body-whorl is ele- 
vated above the original spire. 
This species lives in the south. I 
have gathered the shells abun- 
dantly at San Pedro, when the tide 
was low. The shell is so delicate 
that it is almost impossible to re- 
move the animal without injuring the inner whorls. 
Fortunately, excellent specimens may be found, al- 
most fresh, from which every trace of animal matter 
has been eaten by little crabs and similar animals. 
The shell is sometimes wholly brown in color, but in 
the finest specimens it is mottled with white and 
3^ellow clouds. It was named by Prof. Pilsbry. 

YLaminea vesicula, Gld., the White 
Bubble-shell, is shown in Figure 95. The 
shell is not strictly white however, unless 
it is bleached, but when fresh it is of a 
pale greenish yellow. It is very thin 
and fragile and can easily be crushed by 
the fingers. And yet its inhabitant is 
not a strict vegetarian, but he devours small mol- 
lusks and crabs that happen to come to his home, 
which he locates in a muddy place along the shore 
of the ocean near the mouth of some river. His ali- 
mentary canal is provided with a powerful gizzard 
armed with teeth to crush any hard morsels that he 
may have swallowed. The figure represents a rather 




Fig. 95 



UNIVALVE MOLLUSKS 123 

large specimen of this shell. You will notice that 
the aperture is extremely large, the spire depressed, 
and the whole shell quite like a bubble. 

Haminea virescens, Sby., the Green Bubble-shell, 
is smaller than the last, and has a very short body- 
whorl, while the outer lip is greatly extended. The 
animal that it is supposed to protect is much larger 
than the shell, however, and its delicate, greenish 
covering can give it but a scant defense. This spe- 
cies is found sparingly upon mossy rocks on the 
southern coast. 

In 1863 three large specimens of Aplysia calif or- 
nica, Cooper, the California Sea-hare, were reported 
as found on San Pedro beach after a storm. One 
of these was fifteen inches long and five inches wide. 
Their stomachs were full of seaweed. The soft 
creatures have no visible shell. 

Pleurobranchus calif ornicus, Dall, the California 
Side-gill, also comes from San Pedro. The animal 
is oval and flattened and has a distinct head. The 
shell is a thin white scale, concealed in the mantle. 
The gill is single, feather-shaped, and is placed on 
the right side between the mantle and the foot. The 
animal is waxy white in color, about an inch long, 
while the little shell is half that length. 

Somewhat similar in their anatomy to the last few 
species are the Sea-slugs, which form a great group 
of naked mollusks. While they have no shells they 
are far from being without interest. Their bodies 
are often very brilliantly colored, so that when the) 
are alive and moving they are among the most beau- 
tiful objects of the sea. You will rind them on sea- 



124 WEST COAST SHELLS 

weed at low water, looking like little lumps of soft 
tissue without form or beauty; but when put into 
a jar of sea-water they will extend their tentacles and 
expand their flower-like gills and display their fine 
colors in all their glory. Some are white with scarlet 
trimmings, others are yellow with brown rings, while 
still others have brilliant fringes of various hues. 

They are mostly small, even when extended, and 
usually measure but an inch or two in length. As 
they cannot be preserved except in alcohol or some 
similar fluid by which their beauty is destroyed they 
can be satisfactorily studied only at the seaside. We 
give a brief description of a very few of the most 
common species, referring all who desire to study 
the subject farther to the excellent work of Pro- 
fessor MacFarland of Stanford University, entitled, 
"Opisthobranchiate Mollusca from Monterey Bay." 

Arcludoris montereyensis (Cooper), the Monterey 
Doris, has a rather large, slug-like body, sometimes 
reaching a length of three inches, though commonly 
much smaller. The color is pale yellowish, with 
scattered dark spots, and the surface is roughly tu- 
berculate. The branchial plumes, or gills, form a 
crown-shaped expansion on the posterior third of the 
back of the animal. The tentacles are flattened and 
externally grooved. It may often be found at low 
tide, in little pools or among patches of seaweed. 
It is said to be especially abundant on the piles of 
the wharf at Monterey, where it is found in con- 
nection with the next species. 

Anisodoris nobilis (MacFarland), the Noble 
Doris, resembles the last species, and was formerly 



UNIVALVE MOLLUSKS 125 

confounded with it. The Noble Doris, however, 
grows to a much greater size, being sometimes as 
much as six or eight inches in length. Its color is 
a brighter yellow, and its tentacles are finger-shaped. 
Internally, the differences are still more marked. 
Abundant at Monterey. 

tfriopha car pent eri (Stearns), the Clown Sea- 
slug. This little creature, seldom more than two 
inches in length, is very common on brown kelp and 
in tide-pools. The body is soft, almost transparent, 
clearly showing the brown liver, and is of a white 
color. On it are borne numerous processes which 
are tinged with bright orange, and the mantle is also 
spotted with the same color. When the animal is 
extended the width is about a quarter of the length. 
It is interesting to see the creature move in water. 
Sometimes it comes to the surface and walks on the 
air, as it were, head down. With its bright dress and 
odd pranks it resembles a circus clown. 

tfrwpha maculata, MacFarland, the Blue-spotted 
Sea-slug. This pretty sea-slug is about the size of 
the last and is found in similar positions, though it 
is not quite so common. Its color, however, is a deep 
yellowish-brown, thickly set with small, bluish- 
white, round or oval spots. It contrasts strongly 
with the last species, which has a white background 
and brightly colored spots. The foot of the Blue- 
spotted Sea-slug is orange-yellow in color, and 
touches of the same shade are seen on various organs 
of the body, especially the two club-shaped sense 
organs, known as rhinophores, which stand out like 
horns. 



126 WEST COAST SHELLS 

Hopkinsia rosacea, MacFarland, the Rosy Sea- 
slug, is a little oval creature, hardly an inch in length. 
Its rosy pink body is covered with slender, pointed 
projections of the same color. In fact, it is rosy 
throughout, and could not possibly be mistaken for 
any other member of this interesting class of sea 
animals. It was named in honor of Timothy Hop- 
kins, the generous patron of the Seaside Laboratory 
at Pacific Grove. 

A strange little shell is that shown in 
Figure 96, and a fairy tale it could tell of 
the life of its tiny inhabitant. Shaped like 
the tusk of an elephant, pure white in color 
and open at both ends, it differs widely 
from all other kinds of shells. The name of 

Fig. 96 

this species is Dentalium preciosum, Nutt., 
the Precious Tusk-shell. It has also been called 
Dentalium indianorum, and with good reason, for in 
former years the Indians used to gather these shells 
from the little bays on the west coast of Vancouver 
Island and string them for wampum. The Tusk- 
shell lives partly buried in the sand, the small end 
down. An inch is perhaps an average length for 
shells of this species. 

Dentalium neohexagonu?n, S. & P., the Hexa- 
gonal Tusk-shell is the common species of southern 
California. Sometimes the shells are two inches in 
length, and, as the name indicates, a cross section 
would be six-sided. The shell is thin, white, curved, 
and angled. 

Dentalium semistriatum, var. semipolitum, Br. & 
Sby., the Ornamented Tusk-shell is a small species 



UNIVALVE MOLLUSKS 127 

that lives in the south. Its shell is thin, white, and 
ornamented with numerous fine ridges running from 
the apex two-thirds of the whole length. The aper- 
ture is circular. 

Cadulus quadrifissus, Cpr., the Four-slit Tusk- 
shell. This very large name belongs to a very small 
shell, only half an inch long, which may be easily 
distinguished because the small end is cut by a little 
cross, composed of four slits. It has been dredged 
off San Pedro by Mr. H. N. Lowe, along with other 
rare species of shells. 

Cadulus hepburni, Dall, Hepburn's Tusk-shell, is 
found near the city of Victoria, B. C. It is only 1 1 
mm. in length, and is polished, white, and nearly 
straight. Cadulus tolmiei, Dall, Tolmie's Tusk- 
shell, is found with the last species, but it is more 
curved, and rapidly tapers. Cadulus aberrans, 
Whiteaves, the Wandering Tusk-shell, is the only 
other species of this genus found in the same locality 
as the last two; its shell is larger and more curved. 

The Pteropods are mostly deep sea creatures, 
which live near the surface, and they have been well 
called Sea-Butterflies. The shells are very light and 
thin, and in modern times at least, they are quite 
small. A few have been found on our coast, nota- 
bly, Cavolinia tridentata, Forsk., the Trident Sea- 
Butterfly. This little shell is thin, hollow, horn- 
colored, shaped like a small button with three small 
projections or points at one end, of which the middle 
one is the longest. It has come ashore in southern 
California, and perhaps elsewhere. 

At this point we will describe a few odd mollusks 



128 WEST COAST SHELLS 

that strictly belong with the air-breathers. 

The first one is named Melampus olivaceus, 

Cpr., the Olive Ear-shell. It has a compara- 
Fig. 97 tively strong shell, with a narrow, ear-shaped 

aperture, a short spire, and a pear-shaped 
outline. As is shown in Figure 97, there are two 
folds on the columella. Dark brown, with lighter 
stripes and bands; length, half an inch. This spe- 
cies occurs plentifully on salt mud-flats along the 
southern coast of California. 

The next species is named Phytia myosotis, Drap., 
the Mouse-ear Alexia. The shell is brown and 
spindle-shaped, similar in form and size to a small 
grain of wheat. Probably it was imported from 
Europe, as it is found around Atlantic sea-ports, 
and also near San Francisco. 

Carychium exiguum, var. occidentale, Pils., the 
Western Carychium. Shell minute, distinctly coni- 
cal, whitish, with an evident spire of fine rounded 
whorls. Aperture nearly circular, columella with 
a distinct tooth. From Portland, Oregon. The 
shell is about one-sixteenth of an inch in length; it 
is found about wharves and on stones which are 
sometimes covered with tide-water. 

Pedipes unisulcatus, J. G. Cooper, the Furrowed 
Pedipes. Spire short, body-whorl large and full, 
columella marked with very large and peculiar white 
folds. Surface light brown, length one-fourth of an 
inch. Southern. 

Siphonaria peltoides, Cpr., the Shield-like Siphon- 
shell, has a limpet-shaped shell, small, thin, and low 
arched, with the apex a little to one side of the cen- 




UNIVALVE MOLLUSKS 129 

ter. The color is light brown with more or less 
darker rays, and its length is one-fourth of an inch 
or a little more. The interior muscle-scar is divided 
on one side by a siphonal groove, but this mark is 
not always very distinct. This little mollusk lives 
on rocks between tides, and is not found very often. 
When disturbed it gives out a milky fluid. 

Gadinia reticulata, Sby., the Netted 
Button-shell. A rather small specimen 
of this pretty shell is shown in Figure 
98. It is usually low arched, though it 
varies considerably in this respect. There 
is a nearly central apex, from which run radial lines 
to the edge of the shell. These rays are crossed by 
deep, circular lines of growth, giving the shell a 
netted or reticulated appearance. The color is pure 
white and the shell is quite solid. I have found a 
few specimens living on mussel-bearing ledges, near 
the low water line, but it is not often found alive, 
except occasionally in a tide grotto. Dead shells 
are frequently washed up from the sea by the waves. 
The peculiar markings make them easy to identify. 
Sometimes live shells are found, greenish white in 
color, quite conical, and nearly smooth. 



CHAPTER VII 



MARINE UNIVALVES 



Fig. 99 



Myurella simplex, Cpr., the Simple 
Auger-shell, shown in Figure 99, is a 
southern mollusk, having a pretty, slender, 
conical shell. The spire winds gracefully 
upwards and ends in a sharp point at the 
apex, while at the other end of the shell 
the aperture is small and ends in a short, 
recurved canal. Following the sutures is 
a spiral thread of beads, which adds much to the at- 
tractiveness of the shell. The length is an inch oj 
more, the whorls are about twelve in number, and 
the color is whitish or brown. This shell is our 
representative of the genus "ierebra, which has a 
large number of species of similar form, some of 
which are very strong and as long as your hand. 

Figure 100 also shows our repre- 
sentative of a large genus of shells, 
most of which are found in tropical 
seas. Its name is Conus calif ornicus, 
Hds., the California Cone. While 
large and beautiful specimens of the 
Cone-shells are found in the warm 
waters of the Pacific and Indian 
oceans, our little species is very hum- 
ble, being about an inch in length, while its surface 
is of a sombre chestnut color, though one may be 




Fig. 100 



MARINE UNIVALVES 



131 



found occasionally that has a brown, hairy epi- 
dermis. Specimens of this shell are most common 
on the coast of southern California. 

Figure 101 represents the shell 
of the rare and beautiful Bathy- 
toma carpenteriana, Gabb, Car- 
penter's Turret-shell, (Surcula 
car pent eriana). This shell is 
spindle-shaped, with a conical 
spire, sometimes more slender 
than is represented in the figure, 
which slopes with the utmost 
grace to the apex. The aperture 
is long and the outer lip sharp 
and thin. In perfect specimens 
the lip is recurved near the su- 
ture, making a small notch, but 
this feature is seen better in the 
next genus. The shell is marked 
with many fine lines of growth, 
each of which retains the pecu- 
liar curve of the notch. The 
color is brownish yellow, which 
is set off by numerous narrow, revolving stripes of 
reddish brown. The length of a good sized speci- 
men is three inches. This species lives along the 
coast of California, particularly off the southern 
coast, and most of the specimens have been obtained 
by dredging. An allied species, Bathytoma stearnsi- 
ana, Raymond, shorter, smoother, and relatively 
broader than B, carpenteriana^ has been dredged off 
San Diego and in other places off the southern coast. 




Fig. 101 



132 WEST COAST SHELLS 

Bathytoma tryoniana, Gabb, Tryon's Turret-shell, 
resembles the last species, but the whorls are con- 
vex, angular, and ornamented by a row of nodes on 
the angle. It has been hauled up alive in the fisher- 
men's nets at San Pedro. 

There are several fossil forms in Oregon and Cali- 
fornia which greatly resemble the last three species, 
and which seem to indicate that they were all closely 
related through their ancient ancestors. Various 
names have been given to these old forms, such as 
Bathytoma gabbiana, Dall, to a fossil shell found 
near Coos Bay, and Bathytoma keepi, Arnold, to a 
form found near Coalinga, which may have been an 
ancestor to the recent Bathytoma tryoniana. The 
study of fossil shells has been an important means of 
increasing our knowledge concerning the original 
forms of living shells, and sometimes old and cher- 
ished names have had to be changed on account of 
this knowledge. This is often troublesome, no 
doubt, but we may be consoled by the thought that 
these changes, sometimes at least, mean that the sci- 
ence of Chonchology is alive and not dead. 

Figure 102 gives us a magnified view of the shell 
of Turns perversa, the Perverse Turret-shell. It is 
called perverse because the whorls revolve from left 
to right, instead of in the usual way. It is called 
Harris, instead of Pleurotoma, meaning Notch-side, 
as it is called in the old edition, because it is found 
that Turns is the older name. In regard to this 
change of names Dr. Dall remarks, "It is always 
regrettable to part with an old and familiar name, 
but in the present case, if the rules of nomenclature 



MARINE UNIVALVES 



133 




Fig. 102, x % (*) 




be followed, there is absolutely no 
escape from the conclusion above in- 
dicated." Concerning another change 
he remarks, "It would have to come 
sooner or later, and it is probably best 
to have it over and done with. If we 
do not do so, the evil day is only 
postponed." 

This species is dredged alive off 
southern California, and it is also 
found in a fossil condition. 

tfurris vinos a, Dall, 
the Tipsy Turret-shell, 
is shown in Figure 
103. This is a north- 
ern species, found 
around the Aleu- 
tian Islands and in 
that vicinity. It 
was described by 
Dr. Dall in 1874. 
It also has a sinis- 
tral shell, though 
it differs materi- 
ally from the last 
species in other respects. 

Figure 104 introduces us to 
another northern shell, 80 mm. in 




Fig. 103, x 5 (*) 



ength. Its home is 



in Bering 



Sea, and its name is Turrzs circin- 
ata, Dall, the Girdled Turret- 
shell. As shown in the 



figure 



134 



WEST COAST SHELLS 



each whorl is ornamented with a raised belt or gir- 
dle, from which fact it takes its name. The aper- 
ture is large, being half as long as the whole shell. 
Several other rare species of this genus are known 
to exist either in the cold waters of the north or in 
the deep water off the more southern coasts. 

Figure 105 represents a very graceful 
shell named ^urris ophioderma, Dall, the 
Pencilled Drill-shell {Drillia penicil- 
lata). The spire consists of eight slender 
whorls, the aperture is long, and the sur- 
face is smooth, brownish, and marked 
with delicate cross-lines of color. Tryon 
maintained that this species is only a 
variety of Drillia inermis, Hinds. It is 
distinctively a southern species, tfurris 
penicillata, Cpr., is a Mexican species, 
which was confused with c t. inermis, a 
species already mentioned. 

Drillia torosa, Cpr., the Knobbed Drill-shell, 
shown in Figure 106, is found somewhat farther to 
the north. It is rather less graceful than its 
southern relative, and it is smaller also. 
The surface is almost black, but each whorl 
is ornamented with a spiral row of lighter 
colored knobs. 

The third species, Drillia mo est a, Cpr., 
the Doleful Drill-shell, resembles the last 
species, but the whorls have cross-ribs in- 
stead of knobs. It is a southern shell and is found 
under stones between tides. Its color is brown or 




Fig. 105 



Fig. 106 



MARINE UNIVALVES 



135 




Fig. 107, x 3 (*) 



olive, and its length is one inch. A variety from 
San Pedro is smooth, with fine color lines. 

Drillia empyrosia, Dall, the Burnt 
Drill-shell, is shown somewhat enlarged 
in Figure 107. It has yellowish whorls, 
with a burnt sienna brown tint on the 
later ones, though a paler band shows 
white patches where it crosses the ribs. 
It is not found near the shore, but is 
dredged from deep water off San Pedro. 
tfurris incisa, Cpr., the Incised Drill- 
shell {Drillia incisa), is an inhabitant 
of Puget Sound. Its shell is similar in 
shape to Figure 105, but it is smaller, 
being only a little over an inch in 
length. Its surface is ash-colored, with reddish re- 
volving lines. 

The genus Bela includes a large number of small 
shells, most of them from the north, and some of 
which are obtained by dredging. They are decidedly 
spindle-shaped, and many of them have the charac- 
teristic notch in the outer lip near the upper end of 
the aperture. On account of their small size or rare oc- 
currence they will not be farther described in this book. 
Figure 108 gives an enlarged view of the little 
Mangilia merita, Gld., the Ribbed Mangilia. It has 
six whorls and the surface is marked by high cross- 
ridges and fine spiral lines. It is a whitish 
shell, very delicate and pretty, and it is usu- 
ally less than half an inch in length. Its 
home is on the west coast of Central Ameri- 
Fig 108 ca, but it reaches as far north as San Diego. 



136 



WEST COAST SHELLS 




Mangilia variegata, Cpr., 
the Variegated Mangilia, has 
a shell similar to the last, but 
rather more slender, and 
marked with more raised 
ridges. The shell is thin, yel- 
lowish in color, especially 
around the aperture, though 
the spire is apt to be darker. 
Large specimens reach a 
length of 10 mm. It is found 
on the coast of southern Cali- 
fornia. 

In Figure 109 we have a 
bold picture of the rare and 
Fig. 109, x 1 (*) beautiful shell named Cancel- 

laria coo peri, Gabb, Cooper's 

Cancellaria. Fine living speci- 
mens are occasionally hauled 

up in the nets of the fishermen 

or are gathered by the dredge, 

but good specimens are still 

very valuable, so much so that 

I never owned one. The few 

that have been found off the 

coast of California give us 

proof, however, that the 

depths of the sea hold many 

choice and beautiful treasures, 

and as we look over the blue 

waves we can in imagination Fig. 110. x % (*) 




MARINE UNIVALVES 



137 



call up these many and other fairy forms from their 
homes below. 

Cancellaria crawfordiana, Dall, Crawford's Can- 
cellaria, Figure no, is another fine species which 
has been dredged alive in Drake's Bay and Monterey 
Bay. The surface of the shell is pale brown and 
rough, while the throat is pure white. Its length is 
about an inch and a half. It is to be hoped that 
many more specimens of this fine shell may be 
brought to the surface by careful dredging. 

Another rare shell belonging 
to the same genus is shown in 
Figure in. Its name is Cancel- 
laria middendorjfiana, Dall, 
Middendorff's Cancellaria. It 
comes from the far north, being 
found in Bering Sea and vicin- 
ity. Its white shell is only 17.5 
mm. in length, and it is covered 
with a pale yellow epidermis. 




One fine summer morning 



Fig. Ill, x \ (*) 



some years ago I rose very early, 
took my long rubber boots, an old hoe and a basket, 
put a few crackers in my pocket, and silently stole 
away from the little tent where the rest of my family 
were continuing their slumbers. I followed the long 
path which led along the cliffs, here coming down 
close to the shore and there cutting off a sharp head- 
land of rocks, till I reached my destination. This 
was a strip of sandy beach from which the water 
had all receded, for it was at the very lowest ebb oi 
the early tide. I sat down upon a rock, took a 



138 WEST COAST SHELLS 

cracker from my pocket, and began to investigate 
both it and the prospect. In front of me was the 
strip of sand sloping down to the light waves; behind 
me was a high bank of earth, and the rocks were on 
either side ; but no shell was to be found except a few 
well-worn specimens which had been tossed up by 
some departing wave. 

But I was not expecting to find shells in plain 
sight, so I cheerfully pulled off my shoes and drew on 
those convenient appendages, the long rubber boots. 
(Were I to do it again I would go dressed in a 
bathing suit and snap my fingers at the waves.) Now 
I was ready for work, and taking up my hoe I began 
to dig in the sand. There was plenty of sand to dig 
in, in fact, too much of it, for it apparently took up 
all the room and left no place for the shells. 

At length I struck upon a spot where a little 
stream of water was oozing out from a bank of sand. 
As I scraped away the surface I saw something which 
would have made me dance for joy, had 
I not been weighted down by the long 
boots. For there in very truth was a live 
Olive, with its graceful shell shaped like 
Figure 112. It had a beautiful pearl- 
colored body, which it quickly withdrew 
into the shell and closed the aperture with 
a very insignificant scale, which seemed 
to be an apology for an operculum. 

I picked up the little creature and mused some- 
what as follows: The name of this mollusk is 
Olivella biplicata, Sby., the Purple Olive-shell. It is 
about an inch in length, and the shell, while appar- 




MARINE UNIVALVES 139 

ently smooth and polished, is shown under the micro- 
scope to have fine and beautiful reticulations. The 
spire is short, the aperture long and narrow, the canal 
a mere notch, and the outer lip is thin-edged. Upon 
the inner wall of the aperture is a lump of white 
enamel, and at the base of the columella are two 
little folds, which are referred to in the name bipli- 
cata, meaning twice folded. The color of the shell 
varies much in different specimens; some are almost 
pure white, others are very dark, but most of them 
are dove-colored, with purple trimmings. They re- 
semble the olives of our orchards in form and size, 
so their name has no mystery connected with it, but 
it was doubtless chosen by Mr. Swainson, in 1835, on 
account of the appearance of the shells. It is only 
fair to say, however, that back in 1789 the name 
Oliva was applied to the large group of smooth shells 
of which our little specimen is a humble representa- 
tive. At the present time the genus Oliva includes 
the larger species, which have no operculum. The 
genus Olivella, meaning "little olive," includes the 
smaller species, among which the specimen that we 
are now considering is classed, and which proves its 
right to be there by the presence of an operculum, as 
we have already indicated. Concerning these shells 
Dr. Paul Fischer remarks in his Manuel de Conchy- 
liologie, "Les coquilles sont de petite taille; Tune 
d'elles (0. biplicata, Sowerby) est recherchee par les 
indigenes de Californie, qui la polissent, la percent. 
l'emploient comme ornement 011 monnaie sous le nom 
de Col col. On en trouve d'assez grandes accumula- 
tions dans les tumuli." From these words 1 under- 



140 WEST COAST SHELLS 

stand that our Indians used to value these shells 
quite highly, that they used strings of them for orna- 
ment or for money, and that they have been fre- 
quently found in old mounds and graves. But it is 
not necessary for us to read French to learn all about 
this primitive money. Go to any good public library 
and ask for the Report of the National Museum for 
1887 and turn to page 297. There you will find a 
delightful article on "Ethno-Conchology," written by 
our own Dr. Stearns, which begins as follows: "The 
study of Nature leads through enchanted fields, full 
of new surprises and fresh delights. Whichever path 
we pursue, vistas open on either side equally inviting, 
with every charm of life and form and color, ever 
changing but never old." * * * "Conchology, or 
the study of shells, in itself one of the most delight- 
ful studies, in its ethnical aspect is also full of inter- 
est." The article fills about forty pages and has a 
number of plates, showing both western and east- 
ern shells that have been used by the aborigines for 
the making of beads and strings of money. There 
are many treasures hidden away in these old Govern- 
ment reports that ought to be looked up by our 
bright boys and girls, who will find them to be a per- 
fect mine of information. 

As I proceeded with my hoeing my joy increased, 
for I found the pretty shells by the hundred, and I 
had gathered about a thousand when the tide came in 
so far as to render further work impracticable. They 
seemed to lie in groups just under the surface of the 
sand, yet wholly concealed from sight. You must go 
at the very lowest morning tides, if you wish to 



MARINE UNIVALVES 141 

gather them, and search till you find the bed; for 
they seem to be active burrowers and to move rapidly 
from place to place. 

I took some of them home and put them in a jar 
of beach-sand and sea-water. You will be pleased to 
do the same, if you ever have an opportunity, for 
their movements are very interesting. You will then 
see the plow-shaped foot which quickly digs a hole in 
the sand, and the long, breathing-siphon which curls 
up through the canal and reaches through the sand 
up to the clear water, like the trunk of a swimming 
elephant reaching up for air. 

To clean the shells it is simply necessary to spread 
them in the sunshine for a few hours, when the ani- 
mal will be found to be dead and loosened from the 
shell. The soft parts can then be easily removed 
with a pin. To clean most shells, however, it is 
necessary to throw them into boiling water. In a 
few minutes they can be taken out and the animal 
withdrawn by a little hook or piece of bent wire. 
Many marine mollusks may be killed readily by 
simply putting them into a dish of warm, fresh water 
and leaving them there for a little while. This can 
be done before boiling them, in any case. 

If only a portion of the body of the animal can 
be extracted, the shell may be put into a solution of 
formaldehyde or some other disinfectant for a time, 
and when dry the aperture may be plugged with cot- 
ton, to which the operculum may be attached by a 
drop of glue. They will then appear as if the}' were 
living specimens. Much will depend upon one's time 
and taste for this part of the preparation, but the 



142 WEST COAST SHELLS 

thorough cleansing of the shell is indispensable, and 
should be attended to as soon as possible after the 
specimens are gathered. 

Olivella pedroana, Conr., the Pedro Olive- 

A shell, has a more slender shell than that of 

i|| the last species, though some specimens are a 

little more robust than is indicated by Figure 

Fig. 113 . 

113. The lip is thin, the spire quite tapering, 
while the color is generally brownish or bluish. This 
shell, which used to be called 0. baetica, is sparingly 
found all along the coast. 

Olivella intorta, Cpr., the Twisted Olive-shell, has 
a small, oval shell, more compact than that of the 
last species. The spire is elevated, and the suture is 
very distinct. There is a large callus on the upper 
part of the inner lip, and there is but one distinct 
fold on the columella, instead of two. There are 
generally more or less yellow stripes on the surface of 
the shell, the greater portion of which is light-col- 
ored. The outer lip is more curved at the base than 
that of the last species. 

A pure white little shell is often found 
washed up on sandy beaches, where it is 
found by the children and esteemed quite 
a prize. An enlarged picture is given in 
Figure 114. The little cross beside the 
picture indicates the true length and breadth of a 
large specimen. Its name is Marginella j ewe tin, 
Cpr., though we will call it the California Rice-shell. 
The spire is very short, and there are several folds or 
plaits on the columella. The true Rice-shell of the 
dealers, which is a little white Olivella, pointed at 




MARINE UNIVALVES 143 

both ends, does not live on our coast, but is found in 
great abundance in the West Indies. 

Marginella varia, Sby., the Colored Marginella, 
has a pretty little shell, about the size and shape of 
a fat grain of wheat. It has a very short, rounded 
spire, a long aperture, and a plaited columella. Its 
surface is very smooth and glossy, and varies in color 
from white to brown, the shades being often laid on 
in bands and stripes. It is a southern species, and is 
often found on rocks between tides. Several other 
species of Marginella exist on our coast, but they are 
very small. 

Mitra id<z, Melville, Ida's Miter-shell, 
is shown in Figure 115. It is a dusky rela- 
tive of the beautiful and brilliant Miter- 
shells which are found in the vicinity of 
Australia. Our species is by no means 
gaudy, either in color or ornamentation, but 
it has a plain, smooth shell, which is almost 
black, and is wholly devoid of the gay Fig . n 5( 
trimmings of its relatives. The columella 
is ridged with three strong, oblique folds, which are 
very conspicuous. The cut represents a small speci- 
men, but dead shells are not infrequently found that 
are fully two inches in length, though they are almost 
always somewhat broken. Fresh specimens have a 
black epidermis, but worn shells are chestnut-brown 
in color, with a whitish interior. A large, perfect 
specimen was recently found at Monterey. 

There has been much discussion as to the true 
name of this species. In most books it has been 
called M. maura^ Swains. That name was appar- 




144 



WEST COAST SHELLS 



ently given to a Peruvian shell in 1835, which the 
year before had been called M. orientalis, Gray. 
Another similar shell from the west coast of Mexico 
is named M. fuitoni, and still another from San 
Pedro Bay is called M. lowei, Dall. They all have a 
general resemblance and perhaps a common ances- 
try. M. id<z is named for Mrs. Ida S. Oldroyd of 
Long Beach, who has done so much for the science 
of shells. 

Mitromorpha aspera, Cpr., the 
Rough Miter- form, Figure 116, is 
really only five millimeters in 
length, but the greatly enlarged pic- 
ture brings out the details finely. It 
has a brownish surface, and is 
marked with a very distinct sieve- 
like network of fine lines. 

Mitromorpha filosa, Cpr., the 
Threaded Miter-form, is shown in 
Figure 117. The little shell is 
about a quarter of an inch in length, 
and it is almost black in color. Very 
distinct spiral lines run around it, 
giving it a threaded appearance. 

Fusinus kobelti, Dall, Kobelt's 
Spindle-shell, is beautifully shown 
in Figure 118. It is very graceful 
in form, and occasionally it grows 
to the size of the picture, though 
usually it is not over two inches in 
length. There are five or six 
whorls, with nine elevations on each Fig. 117, x s (*) 




Fig. 116, x f (*) 




MARINE UNIVALVES 

whorl, crossed by fine, dark spiral 
lines, though the main color of 
the shell is whitish. In former 
editions this shell was called 
Fusus kobelti. 

Fusinus luteopictus, Dall, the 
Painted Spindle-shell, Figure 1 19, 
is really less than an inch long. 
The spire is ornamented with nu- 
merous ridges, extending up and 
down, and there are spiral paint- 
ings to be seen, especially inside 
the outer lip, the colors being light 
yellow and dark brown. Fig. us, x % (*) 

This shell is now believed to be identical with 
F. cinereus, Reeve, and should be so labeled. 






ig. 119. x \ (*) 



Fig. L20, \ g (*) 



146 



WEST COAST SHELLS 



Figure 120 shows us another fusiform shell 
named Fusinus harfordi, Harford's Spindle-shell. It 
is a rare shell, a few specimens having been found off 
central California. In young shells there is a polished, 
ruddy brown epidermis, but in older ones there is a 
suspicion of shagginess. The interior of the aper- 
ture is white. 

And now we will examine a few of the shells from 
far-off Alaska; that land of wonderful interest, with 
its hills clothed in evergreen, its mountains tipped 
with snow, its glaciers and icebergs, its mines and 
boundless forests, its numberless islands, bays and 
inlets. Whoever has sailed along the coast of Alaska 
never forgets its wonderful beauty. In those cold 
waters, where salmon jump and whales spout close to 
your steamer, and where the busy world seems far 
away, — in those polar waters live many mollusks, 
quite a number of which are classed under the family 
of the Buccinidae. 




Fig. 121 (*) 



MARINE UNIVALVES 



147 



Figure 121 represents two specimens of Buccinum 
angulation, Gray, the Angled Whelk. The pictures 
are none too large, for the shells are strong and ro- 
bust. Both of them represent females, for the shells 
of the males of the same species are materially 
smaller. This species lives on the shore of the polar 
sea, near Bering Strait, and in the Arctic Ocean. It 
represents a decidedly frigid type. 

Buccinum aleuticum, Dall, the 
Aleutian Whelk, Figure 122, has 
a thin, six-whorled shell, of a pink- 
ish color with a white pillar. It is 
covered with a thin epidermis, 
somewhat bearded. The sculpture 
consists of fine, close-set grooves, 
with spaces between them. The fig- 
ure is slightly magnified. 

Buccinum percassum, Dall, the 
Thick-shelled Whelk, is shown in 
Figure 123. This solid little shell 
is found in the waters that bathe 
the shores of Bering Island, a name 
that makes us think of seal-skins 
and refrigerators. The operculum 
is remarkably distinct, and the shell 
is decidedly thick and solid. 

Two specimens of Buccinum cas- 
taneum, Dall, the Chestnut Whelk, 
are shown in Figure 124. The 
left-hand figure represents the 
normal form of this large shell, 
while the other is the form with 




Fig. 122, x i (*) 




148 



WEST COAST SHELLS 




Fig. 124 (*) 




Fig. 125, x I (*) 



three ridges, which is known 
as var. tricarinatum, Dall. 
Both shells have a translucent 
brown outer coat, and are 
marked with fine spiral lines 
of sculpture. 

Buccinum plectrum, Stimp- 
son, the Lyre Whelk, is shown 
in Figure 125. This shell is 
distinguished by ridges, which 
suggest the second name, on 
account of their resemblance 
to the strings of a musical in- 
strument. This species, which 
is not very common, is also 
found on the shores of Bering 
Sea. 



MARINE UNIVALVES 



149 




Fig. 126 (*) 



Buccinum viridum, Dall, the 
Green Whelk, shown in Figure 
126, which represents it of its 
natural size, is not a north- 
erner, but was dredged where 
the water was half a mile deep, 
off the Santa Barbara Islands. 
The shell is delicate and thin, 
which is apt to be the case 
with all shells which live at 
great depths, and it is covered 
with a fine, greenish epidermis 
which easily falls off. The outer lip is thin and is 
but slightly reflected. The length is 46 millimeters. 

Somewhat similar in shape 
to the last is Chrysodomus 
amiantus, Dall, the Unspot- 
ted Chrysodome, shown in 
Figure 127. This species has 
a large, thin, white shell, with 
a prominent nucleus at the top, 
while it is marked with numer- 
ous narrow revolving ridges. 
Several specimens of this fine 
shell were dredged near the 
Santa Barbara Islands. 

Chrysodomus dims, Rve., 
the Dark Chrysodome, Figure 
91, was described and figured 
on a preceding page. It 

hardly seems to deserve its ill-omened name, as there 
is nothing direful in its appearance, though its color 




Fig. 127. x I (*) 



150 



WEST COAST SHELLS 



is dark and mournful. An old name for this shell 
is Euthria dira. 

Chrysodomus liratus, Mart., the Ridged Chryso- 
dome, is a large Alaskan species, having a light 
brown shell some three inches long, swollen in the 
middle and pointed at both ends. The chief feature 
is the set of about ten strong ridges, or carinae, which 
circle around the shell in a spiral manner, leading 
back from the outer lip to the very apex. I once 
obtained a fine specimen of this shell on Wrangel 
Island. 

Figure 1 28 gives a good idea 
of a somewhat similar shell 
known as Chrysodomus tabula- 
tus, Baird, the Tabled Chryso- 
dome. It lives along the coast 
of Vancouver Island south- 
ward, inhabiting deeper and 
deeper water on the way. A 
beautiful specimen was re- 
cently dredged in Monterey 
Bay. The shell is usually of 
a yellowish white color, though 
sometimes darker, and it can 
be readily identified by the 
tabulated whorls, with their 
flat tops. It is also found as 
a fossil. 

Chrysodomus kellettii, 
Forbes, Kellett's Chrysodome, is one of the largest of 
our mollusks. The shell is strong and heavy, and 
sometimes measures nearly six inches in length. It 




Fig. 128, x I (*) 



MARINE UNIVALVES 



151 



has a regular, conical spire, three inches long, marked 
with numerous rounded knobs, which are often over- 
grown and partially concealed by a stony crust, 
which was once the home and protection of numerous 
little sea animals. The aperture is pear-shaped, and 
the outer lip has many small teeth and internal 
ridges, while the canal turns backward. The umbili- 
cus is large and distinct, while the operculum is dark 
and conspicuous. This shell is found chiefly in 
southern waters. 

Figure 129 gives a view of 
Chrysodomus phoeniceus, 
Dall, the Purple Chrysodome. 
Its seven whorls are of a pur- 
plish brown color. The sculp- 
turing is feeble, and the epi- 
dermis conforms to the lines of 




Fig. 129 (*) 



growth. It was dredged off 
British Columbia in 238 
fathoms of water. 

Chrysodomus m a gnu s, 
Dall, the Great Chryso- 
dome, Figure 130, grows to 




length 



of three inches. 



Fig. 130. x 6 (*) 



152 



WEST COAST SHELLS 



The shell is rather thin, the 
whorls flattened, with a 
strong keel at the shoulder, 
and there is a thick, bearded 
epidermis. This fine shell 
was dredged in Bering Sea. 

Figure 131 represents a 
magnificent shell from the 
waters around the Aleutian 
Islands and other cold cur- 
rents in that vicinity. Its 
name is Beringius crebricos- 
tatus, Dall, the Ribbed 
Bering-shell. It grows to a 





Fig. 131, x ! (*) 

length of five inches. The color 
is white, with a darker flush in 
the throat, while the epidermis is 
of a bright yellowish tint. Like 
many of these northern shells it 
will be seen by comparatively 
few of our readers, and yet it is 
a good thing to know what kind 
of creatures have their home at 
the bottom of those apparently 
inhospitable seas. It shows us 
that abundance of life is by no 



MARINE UNIVALVES 



153 



means confined to conditions that we ourselves should 
consider as congenial. 

Beringius frielei, Dall, Figure 132, is another 
large shell of this genus, which bears the name of 
the great navigator. Vitus Bering was a Dane by 
birth, but he entered the Russian service and made 
many discoveries in the northern waters. He was 
wrecked on the island that bears his name in 1741, 
and there his life was ended. This specific name was 
given in honor of a Norwegian gentleman, Mr. Her- 
man Friele, of Bergen. This shell is covered with 
a persistent, reddish- 
brown epidermis, and 
it is delicately sculp- 
tured. The aperture is 
snowy white within. 

Another magnifi- 
cent shell of this series 
is shown in Figure 
133. Its name is Be- 
ringius kennicottii, 
Dall, Kennicott's Be- 
ring-shell. In spawn- 
ing-time is comes into 
shallow water on the 
coast of Kadiak Island 
but afterwards it with- 
draws to greater 
depths. It has a light 
brown covering, under 
which the shell is 
white or purple, Fig. 133. x | (*) 




154 



WEST COAST SHELLS 



though at the aperture it is somewhat pinkish. It 
is fully five inches in length. 

Three large shells now follow, all of which were 
dredged by the United States Steamer "Albatross" 
in cold, Alaskan waters. The first is named Strom- 
bella fragilis, Dall, the Fragile Strombella, and its 
general appearance is 
shown in Figure 134. 
The shell is thin and in- 
flated. Its color is pink- 
ish, and it is covered 
with a thin epidermis. 




Fig. 135, x I (*) 



The outer lip, as may 
be seen in the cut, is 
widely deflected. The 
ength of this large shell 
is about four inches. 

Strombella midden- 
dorffi, Dall, Midden- 
dorff's Strombella, is 
shown in Figure 135, 



MARINE UNIVALVES 



155 



This fine, large shell is marked with sharp, fine 
grooves which run around it spirally. The lip is 
reddish-yellow in color, or sometimes brown. It is 
a fine, shapely shell, and it reaches a length of 1 10 
millimeters. 

Figure 136 shows 
the largest shell of 
all, its length reach- 
ing the remarkable 
extent of 137 mm., 
while it is 75 mm. 
in breadth. This 
splendid shell is 
named Strombella 
melonis, Dall, the 
Melon Strombella. 
Although so large 
the shell is not very 
heavy, for it is quite 
thin, like most of 
the true Melon- 
shells. Its shape is 
well shown in the 
picture, and its color 
is pinkish, or yellow and white. 

tfritonofusus rectirostris, Cpr., the Straight- 
beaked Spindle-shell is shown in Figure 137. The 
picture is considerably magnified, but it represents 
the features of the shell very closely. The shell 
itself is white, but it has a polished, olive-brown 
epidermis. It. lives in the waters of Puget Sound 
and vicinitv. 




Fig. 136, x 3 (*) 



156 



WEST COAST SHELLS 





Fig. 138, x $ (*) 



The shell has 



tfritonofusus he- 
rendeeni, Dall, the 
Nine - whorled 
Spindle- shell, is 
shown in Figure 
138. This species 
is an inhabitant of 
more northern wa- 
ters, having been 
obtained at various 
places in the far 
north, and it grows 
to a length of 
nearly three inches, 
about nine whorls and is very sym- 
metrically shaped. Its color is pink- 
ish white with a yellowish tinge be- 
neath, and over all is a pale olive periostracum. 
There are several other species of this genus, and they 
all prefer the cold waters of the north to the more 
temperate regions farther south. 

In Figure 139 we have a natural-sized picture of 
the little Macron lividus, A. Ad., the Livid Macron. 
The shell is somewhat brownish in color, and when 
found living, it will be noticed that it is covered 
with a dark brown epidermis, which is laid on in 
little ridges, resembling a coating of fine, 
soft cloth. Near the top of the white co- 
lumella is a sharp ridge. This species is 
seldom seen far north of San Diego, while 
another shell, Macron Kellettii, A. Ad., 
Fig. 139 Kellett's Macron, is commonly found on 



Fig. 137, x ! (*) 




MARINE UNIVALVES 



157 






the coast of Lower California. This species has a 
larger shell than that of the Livid Macron, and it 
is also of a darker color. The aperture is very large, 
the outer lip thin, and the canal a mere notch. Its 
length is rather more than -an inch. 

The large shell shown in 
Figure 140 comes from north- 
ern Alaska and it has re- 
ceived several names. It will 
be safe, however, to call it 
Volutopsius kobelti, D a 1 1, 
Kobelt's Volutopsius. It is 
not a common shell, and the 
specimens that are usually 
collected are often beach- 
worn, but the picture repre- 
sents the shell in perfection. 
Its full length is about four 
inches. 

Volutopsius castaneus, 
Morch, the Chestnut Volutop- 
sius, is found more abun- 
dantly than the last species. 

It lives in shallow water off the Aleutian Islands. 
It is of a brownish color and it has no epidermis. 
The aperture is large, the surface rough and des- 
titute of any spiral sculpturing. It is about the 
same size as the last species. 

Volutopsius attenudtus, Dall, the Slender Volu- 
topsius, shown in Figure 141, comes from Bering 
Strait and the adjacent Arctic waters. The shell 




Fig. 140. x2.'(*) 



158 



WEST COAST SHELLS 



is thin, white and delicately striated. The length 
is a little over two inches. 





Fig. 141 (*) 



Fig. 142, x | (*) 



Liomesus nux, Dall, the Arctic Nut-shell, shown 
in Figure 142, is well named, for it much resembles 
a round, well-filled nut. It also comes from far 
northern waters, the home of so many species of 
mollusks. The shell is dark-colored, with a creamy 
white layer above. In life there is a periostracum 
which resembles velvet. 

Lio?nesus canaliculatus, Dall, 
the Channelled Nut-shell, is shown 
in Figure 143. It is another north- 
erner, and its white shell is covered 
with a velvety epidermis. Its 
length is 35 millimeters. 

The next genus of shells that 

we are to consider has long borne 

Fig. 143 (*) the name of Nassa, a word which 




MARINE UNIVALVES 159 

means a net, or more properly, a basket that is used 
for taking fish. Most of the members of this genus 
are small, and the sides of their shells have a reticu- 
lated surface, somewhat like network or the sides of 
a basket. Much as we regret it, however, it now seems 
as if this good old Lamarckian name would have to 
give place to another in the near future. But for the 
present we will not anticipate any such change. 

Our largest member of the genus is 
named Nassa fossata, Gld., the Chan- 
neled Nassa, Figure 144. The spire is 
conical and ends in a pointed apex. 
The surface of the whole shell is 
marked with spiral and transverse 
ridges, the former of which appear 
also within the outer lip. The thick- 
ness of this lip varies much with the 
age of the animal, as does the callus 
of enamel which is spread over the 
columella. This enamel, in mature specimens, is of 
a bright orange color, and contrasts finely with the 
light ash-color of the general surface of the shell. 
The canal is short and abruptly reflected, while just 
above it is a deep ditch, or fossa, showing at once 
from what fact the specific name is derived. The 
use of the canal seems to be to afford space and 
protection for a breathing-tube, which projects above 
the surface of the mud which the animal is exploring 
for his prey. 

The Nassas are active mollusks, and arc cordially 
hated by the oystermen, because they are so prone 
to bore holes through the shells of young oysters, 




160 



WEST COAST SHELLS 



eating the contents with as much relish as any other 
judges of good living. They bore into various 
clams, too, and it is even hinted that they sometimes 
attack their own kind. But they are scavengers also, 
and consume the flesh of dead crabs and like 
animals, which are so liable to be found near the 
shore. In turn they are themselves eaten, for I 
have some beautiful specimens of this species which 
were taken from the stomach of a large fish — show- 
ing that the enemy of other animals is liable to be 
swallowed whole when the avenging and hungry 
fish comes around. 

Nassa tegula, Reeve, the Covered-lip 
Nassa, Figure 145, is a southern species, 
having a strong shell, a small aperture, 
and a reflexed canal. The inner lip is 
covered with a large callus of smooth, 

white enamel. 
The color is 
dark gray, and the length is 
three-fourths of an inch. 

Figure 146 gives us an 
excellent, though greatly 
magnified picture of Nassa 
insculpta, Cpr., the Sculp- 
tured Nassa. This is a rare 
shell, being found in the 
south, and collected chiefly 
by dredging. It is thick and 
solid, the outer lip is 
strongly reflected, and there 
is no transverse sculpturing 





Fig. 145 



Fig. 146, x I (*) 



MARINE UNIVALVES 



161 




Fig. 147 



except on the first few whorls. The color is light 
brown, but the aperture is white. My largest speci- 
men measures 23 mm. in length. 

Nassa perpinguis, Gld., the Fat Nassa, 
Figure 147, has the prettiest shell of all 
of our species of Nassa. The cut does 
scant justice to a good specimen, though 
it shows that the shell is finely checked, 
being cut into a multitude of little 
squares. The whorls are plump and fat, 
the shell rather thin, the color whitish or 
light brown, with sometimes a dash of orange in- 
side, and a spiral stripe of chestnut running around 
the middle of each whorl. The outer lip is sharp 
and thin. Most specimens are rather smaller than 
the figure. 

Nassa mendica, Gld., the Lean Nassa, 
Figure 148, is a variable species, having a 
more slender shell than the last. The sur- 
face is marked with numerous fine, spiral 
lines, crossed by ridgy varices. The color 
is light brown, with a white peristome. It 
occurs all along the coast from Puget Sound 
to San Diego. There is a variety, named 
var. cooperi, Fbs., which has for sculpturing a few 
strong transverse ribs and small spiral lines. Fig- 
ure 148 resembles this variety. 

Nassa calif or niana, Com*., the California Nassa, is 
a rare species, sometimes found alive on the coast of 
the southern half of California, particularly about 
San Pedro. It is as large as Nassa fossata, and it has 
the general form and sculpturing of Nassa perpin- 




Fig. 148 



162 WEST COAST SHELLS 

guis. It is found fossil in various localities in the 
State. Some consider N. fossata and N. perguinis 
as varieties of this species. 

Ilyanassa obsoleta, Say, the Worn-out Nassa, is 
a very recent comer to this coast. It is extremely 
abundant on the Atlantic coast to the south of Cape 
Cod, being found especially on mud-flats, when the 
tide is low. In those regions the shell always has a 
dilapidated appearance, being partly covered with 
a dismal, mossy growth, and seldom reaching the 
length of an inch. It came to California, however, 
probably with young oysters, and settled in San 
Francisco Bay, on the Alameda side. As frequently 
happens with immigrants it began to spruce up quite 
wonderfully. Some specimens were sent me by a 
lady in Alameda in 1909, who asked for their name. 
They were so clean and bright and large that I hesi- 
tated long before I was fully convinced that they 
were the real "Worn-outs," but such they are now 
regarded by collectors. They are about the size and 
shape of Figure 147, but the shell is much thicker 
and heavier than those of our N. perpinguis. The 
exterior is dark, with a greenish tinge, while the 
peristome is brown and glossy, with two white, in- 
ternal stripes. It would not be strange if they should 
increase rapidly and become a very common shell. 



CHAPTER VIII 

THE SMALLER SEA-SHELLS 

When the tide is high the waves often wash up 
a great number of little shells into sheltered coves, 
and leave them there to be gathered when the water 
has ebbed 3.waj. It is very pleasant to lie down 
upon the warm sand on a summer afternoon, and 
while the waves are making gentle music at your 
feet to look for these beautiful bits of organic struc- 
ture. Whenever you find a pretty one you put it 
away in a little bag, or what is more likely, you lay 
it in the bowl of some large shell that you have 
picked up for that purpose. 

Among the most abundant of the shells 
to be thus found on our coast is the little 
Common Dove-shell, Columbella gausa- 
pata, Gould, shown somewhat magnified 
in Figure 149. The shell is really about Fig. 149, x 5 
the size of a grain of wheat. The spire is 
conical, the lip thickened, and in the variety carinata, 
Hinds, there is a distinct keel just below the suture. 
The coloring of the shell is chestnut brown and its 
surface is polished and glistening, and it is often 
mottled with dots and stripes. This little mollusk 
lives in great numbers at the roots of the eel -grass. 
and dead shells are washed up abundantly upon the 
shore. It may also be found alive when the tide 
is low. 



164 



WEST COAST SHELLS 




Fig. 150, x f <*) 



Columbella aurantiaca, Dall, the Gol- 
den Dove-shell, a greatly magnified view 
of which is shown in Figure 150, was 
found at Monterey many years ago by 
Dr. Dall, who gave it the above name. 
It is really a tiny shell, only 5 mm. in 
length, and it varies in the color of its 
translucent shell from orange to brown. 
It sometimes has zigzag brown markings. It should 
be sought for among the rocks at low water. 

Columbella tuberosa, Cpr., the Tuberculated 
Dove-shell, is another similar species. The shell, 
however, has a very slender spire, and the body- 
whorl is angulated. The inside of the outer lip bears 
a row of little tubercles. The color is brown, and 
the length is about a quarter of an inch. It is said 
to exist sparingly all along the coast. 

Columbella chrysalloidea, Cpr., is the Chrysalis 
Dove-shell. This is a southern species, having a 
somewhat cylindrical shell like the chrysalis of an 
insect. There are six whorls, very slightly convex, 
while the surface is marked with delicate spiral 
ridges and furrows. The spiral or- 
namentation is prominent on the 
lower part of the columella. The 
length is eight millimeters. 

Columbella permodesta, Dall, 
the Modest Dove-shell, is shown 
in a magnified form in Figure 151. 
The shell of this species is thin and 
polished, of a bluish white color, 
and it is covered with a pale, yel- Fig. 151, x i (*) 




THE SMALLER SEA-SHELLS 165 

lowish epidermis. Its real length is 14 mm. It was 
dredged from deep water off the Santa Barbara 
Islands. 

Amphissa versicolor, Dall, the Joseph- 
coat Amphissa, Figure 152, is a very com- 
mon shell along the coast of California. 
The drawing gives a very correct idea of 
the appearance of the shell, though it is Fig _ 152> x 3 
considerably enlarged, the common length 
being eight or ten millimeters. The color varies 
exceedingly, as the name indicates. Some shells are 
reddish, others yellow, while still others are various 
shades of gray, and even almost black. A collec- 
tion of these shells furnishes a very pretty assort- 
ment of tints. Living specimens are not so often 
found as dead shells, but at low water they may 
often be discovered, clinging to the rocks. 

A?nphissa corrugata, Rve., the Wrinkled Am- 
phissa, is the name of the species which lives chiefly 
in northern waters. It was formerly supposed to 
include the last species, but it is now believed to be 
quite distinct. Its shell is much larger in the first 
place, the average length being three-fourths of an 
inch. It has a less ventricose body-whorl and rela- 
tively finer sculpturing. It is usually of a light 
yellowish-brown color. 

Amphissa undata, Cpr., the Wavy Amphissa, is 
shown greatly magnified in Figure 1^3. This shell 
also has been confounded with A. versicolor, but it 
is really another species, though it is of about the 
same size. In the enlarged figure the sculpturing is 
distinctly brought out, though the color pattern is 



166 



WEST COAST SHELLS 




Fig. 153, x * (*) 




ignored. It has been found 

plentifully in mud off Catalina 

Island, in 16 fathoms of water. 
The Two-tinted Amphissa, 

Amphissa bicolor, is shown in 

Figure 154. 

The shell is 14 

mm. in length, 

and is of a pale 

straw color, 

with a brown- 
ish base and a 

brown band. 

Specimens were 
dredged in various places off the 
coast of southern California, in 
quite deep water. 

We now come to the great family of the Muri- 
cidcz. In the warm waters of the tropical ocean the 
members of the Murex family take on very bright 
colors and assume very fanciful forms. With us, 
however, their representatives are more modest, 
though many of them are full of interest to the col- 
lector, while some have considerable beauty. 

As has been already explained in the Preface the 
names of some of the members of this family are still 
in a process of adjustment. To prevent confusion, 
where a new name has been definitely announced by 
the authorities at Washington it will be accepted, 
but the old name will also be given in parentheses. 
In most cases it is only the first, or generic, name 



Fig. 154, x ? (*) 



THE SMALLER SEA-SHELLS 



167 



that is changed; and while we naturally call the 
recently announced name as a "new" one, still, in 
most cases it is really an older name than the one 
that has been in common use for nearly a century. 
We may doubt the wisdom of restoring these nearly 
forgotten names, but wiser men than we are have 
thought differently, and so we bow loyally to their 
decision. For those who are learning the names 
for the first time the difference will not be appreci- 
ated. While acting conservatively in this matter, 
it is proper to remark that other names may be 
changed, which for the present we have thought it 
best to retain. 

We begin our descriptions 



with 



a rare species, 



Murex 



carpenteri, Dall, Carpenter's 
Murex, shown in Figure 15 J. 
The picture is of about the 
natural size of a large speci- 
men, and it clearly shows the 
main features of the shell. 
The aperture is small, oval, 
and has an elevated rim with- 
out denticulations. The color 
varies from reddish brown to 
a light gray. There are three 
wing-like varices on each 

whorl, and between them the shell is nearly smooth. 
This fine species has been found at Monterey, and 
has also been dredged in various places southward 
from the Farallone Islands. 

The much befri'zzled shell shown in Figure 1 c6 




Fig. 155 (*) 



168 



WEST COAST SHELLS 




Fig. 156 (*) 



is another of the three- 
winged California forms, 
and is named Murex petri, 
Dall., St. Peter's Murex. It 
was obtained by Mr. and 
Mrs. Oldroyd from rather 
deep water at San Pedro, 
so it doubtless takes its 
name from that of the lo- 
cality where it was ob- 
tained, Pedro's, or Peter's, 
Bay. The color of the shell 
is yellow-brown, mottled 
with lighter spots. Its 
length is 65 millimeters. 
This shell is rough all over, while the last one is 
smooth between the varices. 

Murex trialatus, Sby., the Three- winged Murex, 
has a much smaller shell, with dark brown and white 
color bands. The shoulder of the whorls is exca- 
vated, the three varices thick and rounded, and the 
frills sometimes beautifully recurved. A fine speci- 
men was dredged by Mr. H. N. Lowe, off San 
Pedro, in ten fathoms of water. 

Murex circumtextus, Stearns, the Cir- 
cled Murex, Figure 157 (Ocinebra cir- 
cumtexta), has a rather heav}^ shell, 
many low varices, and many very deep 
and distinct spiral grooves which give the 
outer lip a scalloped appearance. It is 
of a reddish color within, but externally 
it is whitish, with brown spots arranged in a spiral 




Fig. 157 



THE SMALLER SEA-SHELLS 



169 




Fig. 158 



line. In a fully grown specimen there are four or 
five white teeth inside the outer lip. 

Murex festivus, Hds., the Festive Murex, is shown 
in Figure 158. I gathered fine 
specimens of this grand species at 
San Pedro, by going among the 
piles of the wharves when the tide 
was low, and examining the upper 
part of the logs, to which these and 
other species of mollusks were 
clinging. ' Many of them were 
somewhat concealed by growths of 
seaweed and hanging drift, but 
they readily yielded to a careful 
search. 

The shell is festively ornamented with three re- 
flexed frills on each whorl, alternating with rounded 
knobs. In perfect specimens there are numerous 
fine spiral lines of sculpturing, which are often 
covered with foreign substances. The canal is com- 
pletely closed, forming a tube, which is bent back 
near its extremity. The color is white or gray, 
though the outside is often very dingy. The picture 
represents a good sized specimen, though it some- 
times grows considerably larger. This species loves 
warm water too well to migrate far to the north. 

Murex incisus, Brod., the Incised Murex, belongs 
to southern waters and is not very common. The 
shell has strong, rounded, transverse ridges which 
give the spire the appearance of being chopped full 
of holes. The color is white with cross stripes of 
brown, and its length is an inch and a quarter. 

Figure 1 £9 introduces us to another southern 



170 



WEST COAST SHELLS 




Fig. 159 



shell, Purpura nuttallii, Conr. (Murex nuttallii and 
Cerostoma nuttallii), Nuttall's Hornmouth. If you 
examine a full grown shell of this 
species you will find a sharp tooth, 
or horn, near the base of the outer 
lip. Some young specimens have 
no horn, and they may also have 
an open canal instead of a closed 
one, which the adult has. Allow- 
ance must be made for the age and 
development of the specimen in 
determining its name. The shell 
of an adult of this species is about 
two inches long, and it is of 
a dingy white color, somewhat 
marked with brown. On each whorl are three dis- 
tinct varices, with rounded knobs between them. 
This species seems to be quite closely related to the 
next one, so much so that some have considered one 
but a variety of the other. 

Purpura foliata, Martyn {Murex foliatus), the 
Leafy Hornmouth, is a more northern species and 
has a larger shell, which is very conspicuously 
marked with its three broad, wing-like varices. They 
appear to be made up of overlapping plates, like 
shingles on the roof of a house. The canal is con- 
spicuously curved backward, and at each period of 
definite advance in the growth of the shell the old 
canal is left behind and becomes a distinct feature 
of the specimen. Strong spiral ridges appear on the 
back of the shell, spreading out in a fan-shaped man- 
ner upon the varices. A very large specimen dredged 
near Monterey measured 87 mm. in length and 63 



THE SMALLER SEA-SHELLS 



171 






mm. in breadth. The color of all of these shells is 
a dull white, somewhat obscured by external stains. 
The present name of this shell goes back to 1784, 
and has been recently restored by Dr. Dall. The 
shells commonly known as Purple-shells will no 
longer bear the name Purpura, as will be seen by 
reference to a later page. The purple dye of the 
ancients was obtained from one or more species 
of Murex. 

Figure 160 
gives an excellent 
idea of a rare 
shell named fro- 
phon triangula- 
tus, Cpr., the 
Three- cornered 
Trophon. The 
shell is quite 
large, but it is of 
light weight, ow- 
ing to the extreme 
thinness of the 
varices. Exter- 
nally it is reddish 
brown in color, 

though nearly white internally. When examined 
closely it seems to be almost wholly made up of 
wings, and one wonders where the animal found 
internal space enough to enable it to carry on busi- 
ness. The original young specimen from which the 
species was named was dredged from the vicinity of 
Catalina Island at a depth of sixty fathoms. It 
was less than half an inch long, but adult specimens 




Fig. 160 



172 



WEST COAST SHELLS 



of the size of the cut have been dredged recently, 
and sometimes the shell reaches a length of about 
four inches. It has been obtained from fishermen 
who work in the vicinity of San Pedro in consider- 
able numbers, and a few specimens have even been 
found on the shore. 

Boreotrophon scitulus, Dall, 
the Elegant Trophon, Figure 161, 
is a type of a large number of spe- 
cies which live mostly in northern 
waters, and which have been as- 
signed to this genus. It is a little 
shell, two-thirds of an inch in 
length, but it is supplied with an 
abundance of frills, as is shown 
in the picture. It was first found 
in Bering Sea, but like many 
others of the cold water shells it 
probably exists in deep water as 
far south as the Santa Barbara 
Islands. 
Boreotrophon stuarti, E. A. Smith, Stuart's Tro- 
phon (trophon orpheus). This fine shell has from 
seven to twelve varices, with the interspaces crossed 
by four or five rounded spiral coils. It sometimes 
reaches a length of two inches. The sharp, white 
varices make a crown at the suture. It ranges from 
Alaska to Santa Cruz, seeking deeper water as it 
comes southward, doubtless because the deep water 
is colder and more like its Arctic home. 

Boreotrophon gracilis, Perry (^trophon multi- 
costatus), the Graceful Trophon. This northern 




Fig. 161, x f (*) 






THE SMALLER SEA-SHELLS 173 

Species has a pear-shaped shell, with several sharp, 
frill-like varices. The sutures are deep, and the 
few whorls of the spire are very distinct. The color 
in small specimens is generally white, though often 
the interior is somewhat brown. This shell reaches 
a length of one inch. There are many other species 
of this genus, most of them small, which will not be 
described in this book. Anyone who wishes to inves- 
tigate the matter will find them properly described 
in Volume XXIV of the "Proceedings of the United 
States National Museum." That book should be 
found in all large public libraries. Interesting arti- 
cles on shells are to be found in very many of the 
volumes of the same series. 

We now come to a somewhat puzzling genus of 
shells, the Ocinebras. Most of them have small, 
fairly strong shells, with moderate apertures and dis- 
tinct canals, though the latter are sometimes closed. 
By that term we mean that they are tube-like; they 
are never closed at the lower end of the shell. 

Ocinebra interfossa, Cpr., the Sculptured 
Ocinebra, shown in Figure 162, has a small, 
spindle-shaped shell, marked with spiral 
grooves, sharp varices, and deep sutures. It 
varies in color through shades of yellow, Fig . 162 
gray, and brown. The picture gives an ex- 
cellent idea of the shell, both as to size and shape. 
The color is white within and dull gray without. 
The shell is quite rough and rasp-like, owing to the 
distinct sculpturing. This species is liable to be 
found all along the coast, where there are rocks or 
cliffs. 



174 



WEST COAST SHELLS 




Fig. 163 



Figure 163 gives a fairly good idea of the 
most common species of this genus, namely, 
Ocinebra lurida, Midd., the Lurid Ocinebra. 
This pretty little shell is common at Monte- 
rey and at other parts of the coast. It is 
spindle-shaped in outline, quite strong and 
thick for so small a shell, and is distinctly marked 
with fine spiral grooves. The aperture is oval, the 
canal sometimes open and sometimes tubiform. 
While the spiral lines are prominent, the transverse 
sculpturing is faint. The color is reddish-yellow, 
though sometimes it is nearly white. At low tide I 
have found living specimens, the size of the figure 
clinging to stones. 

The southern form of this spe- 
cies, known as variety munda, 





Fig. 165, x 



Fig. 164, x I (*) 

Cpr., shown in Figure 164, 
which is much enlarged, has 
low, rounded, transverse ribs, 
not varying from suture to 
suture. It is also marked 
with regular spiral lines. Its 
length is 16 mm. 



THE SMALLER SEA-SHELLS 



175 






figures 



Ocinebra michaeli, Ford, Michael's Ocinebra, two 
good views of which are shown in Figures 165 and 
166, occurs at Cayucos, San Luis Obispo Co., Cali- 
fornia. The color of the shell is light gray, with 
a narrow median band of brown. The 
give excellent details of the 
shell, though it must be re- 
membered that they are much 
enlarged, the real length being 
only 16 mm. The shell was 
named for Mr. G. W. Mi- 
chael, who collected the first 
specimens. 

Ocinebra poulsoni, Nutt., 
which somewhat resembles 
Figure 1 58, has a strong, spin- 
dle-shaped shell, from one to 
two inches in length. The 
shell is rather more slender 
than the figure, and it has a 
distinct trace of an umbilicus. 
Its surface is strongly marked with knobby varices, 
which are crossed by slight spiral ridges and fine, dark 
spiral lines. The walls of the aperture in mature 
specimens are pure white, and within the outer lips 
are five or six little round tubercles, or teeth. The 
canal is open and somewhat curved, and the opercu- 
lum is a thin, brown scale. The exterior of the shell 
is gray, while the inside is white. This tine species 
lives in southern waters, and I have collected beauti- 
ful specimens at San Pedro. 

Urosalpinx anereus, Say, the Oyster Drill, is an 




Fig. 166, 



176 WEST COAST SHELLS 

eastern species found in San Francisco Bay, espe- 
cially around the oyster beds. It was probably intro- 
duced with young oysters from the Atlantic coast as 
were so many of the foreign creatures found in that 
bay, and it has now become quite common. In size 
and appearance it considerably resembles Murex 
circumtextus, Figure 157, but the shell is thinner and 
the spire longer and more pointed. 

In fact, my first knowledge of its existence in San 
Francisco Bay was brought by a bright boy who told 
me that among the shells he had gathered on the Ala- 
meda beach were specimens of Ocinebra circumtexta. 
I knew that that species loved the breakers of the sea 
too well to flourish in the calm waters of a quiet bay, 
and I assured him that he must be mistaken; but he 
brought specimens to prove that he really had found 
the shells, and then it became evident that an unex- 
pected species had appeared. 

As the name indicates, the shell is ash-colored, 
though it is reddish internally. Specimens may read- 
ily be captured at low tide, and often the little egg- 
vases may be observed, attached to stones or posts. 
This species is not a welcome addition to our western 
fauna, for the "Drill" is a determined enemy of the 
oyster, boring holes into the young ones and quickly 
destroying them. It is thoroughly detested by the 
oystermen, who would be glad to exterminate the 
whole species. 

Our next species is named tfrophon belcheri, Hds., 
Belcher's Trophon, (Chorus belcheri). This large 
mollusk, whose shell is so well shown in Figure 167 
is found chiefly on the coast of southern California. 



THE SMALLER SEA-SHELLS 



177 



It is one of our largest shells, the picture being much 
smaller than the real shell, and specimens have been 
found which are fully six inches in length. Its color 
is dull white, somewhat 
tinged with brown. 
Specimens may some- 
times be picked up on the 
mud-flats, at the time of 
low tide. And right 
here let me remind you 
what a boon to collectors 
the ocean tides are. A 
large strip of land is fre- 
quently laid bare, ena- 
bling the seeker after 
shells and other sea- 
treasures to walk safely 
where a few hours before 
the waves had been tumbling over one another. 

The shell of this species is pear-shaped, and it 
ends in a long canal, to the left of which is a deep, 
funnel-shaped umbilicus. The spire is beautifully 
crowned with circles of sharp horns, and about the 
middle of the outer lip there is a large, pointed tooth. 

We now come to the Purples, which received this 
name not because the shells are of a purple color 
themselves, but because in olden time a purple dye 
was prepared from the bodies of similar mollusks. 
This was especially true of a small Murex, M . tri/n- 
ci/li/s, that lived in the Mediterranean Sea, and the 
inhabitants of ancient Tyre were peculiarly skilful 
in preparing the rich "Tyrian Dye." 




Fig. 167 



178 WEST COAST SHELLS 

How beautifully the different sciences are joined 
together. The study of conchology calls up pictures 
of the long ago, and cities of the Mediterranean 
come trooping past us, their inhabitants clothed in 
strange garments, which reflect bright colors in the 
light of the summer sunshine. Ancient ships again 
sail our seas, the shrill cries of the sailors and oars- 
men mingling with the whistling of the winds 
through the cordage, and the splashing of the salt 
spray against the prows of the triremes. Again with 
Saint Paul we listen to the roar of the tempest from 
the deck of a stranded vessel that is fast going to 
pieces, and with him and all on board we escape to 
the shore of the island and enjoy the hospitable care 
of its rude but kindly inhabitants. History, geogra- 
phy, even religion itself come bringing their treasures 
as we blow a blast on a sea-god's trumpet, and voices 
from all around the world, both modern and ancient, 
tell us their stories as we hold an empty sea-shell to 
our listening ear. 

Happy is the child, happy is the man, who sees in 
the shells of the seashore far more than lumps of 
limestone, far more even than lists of Latin names, 
but to whom they also speak of Nature's beauty and 
of the struggles of humanity. We cannot all be great 
scholars, we cannot all be familiar with foreign lan- 
guages or the history of distant nations; but to each 
one of us the shells of the shore may speak of beauty 
and truth, of hopeful trust and providential care, of 
duty and loving obedience; and we may go back to 
our humdrum work with fresh courage, and take up 
our daily duties with a firmer faith that they all 



THE SMALLER SEA-SHELLS 179 

are needed links in the great chain that binds earth 
to heaven. 

As already explained the name Purpura is now 
applied to certain members of the Murex family. 
The familiar shells that formerly bore that name 
are now called tfkats, a name given by Bolten in 
1798. While this will be the Latin name, there is 
no objection to calling them Purple-shells as before. 

Most of our Purples prefer to live where they will 
get frequent changes, for we find them selecting as 
a home those rocks that are alternately left bare and 
then covered again by the tide. They are car- 
niverous creatures, and like the Oyster Drill they 
can bore through the thin shells of bivalve mollusks, 
and then devour the poor inhabitants. We have but 
few species on this coast, but some of those furnish 
very numerous specimens. The first and most com- 
mon kind is named tfhais saxicola, Val., the Rock 
Purple, {Purpura saxicola), Figure 168. Though 
the cut is larger than the average 
shell, specimens are sometimes found 
that fully equal it in size. The shells 
differ much in details, even in speci- 
mens living near each other, and it is 
no wonder that many different names 
have been given to the varieties. In 
general the spire is short, the colum- 
ella flattened, the outer lip thin, the 
aperture large, and the interior of the 
shell of a chestnut color. Sometimes the outside is 
smooth and almost black, sometimes the shell is light 
colored and coronated, but often it is of a ding) 




Fig. 168. \ 



180 



WEST COAST SHELLS 




Fig. 169 



white, decorated with double spiral bands of dark 
brown, accompanied with spiral grooves. The At- 
lantic Purple, C T. lapillus, exhibits similar variations. 
^tiais lima, Mart., the Grooved Pur- 
ple, {Fur pur a lima), Figure 169, is 
more rarely met with than the last spe- 
cies, probably on account of its living 
in deeper water. The shell is com- 
monly larger than that of the last spe- 
cies, while in appearance it is more 
smooth and symmetrical. The spire 
consists of four whorls, separated by 
distinct sutures. The distinguishing 
feature, however, and the one which gives the name 
to the shell is the presence of about fifteen spiral 
grooves on the whorls, giving its surface somewhat 
of the appearance of a coarse hie. The operculum, 
as in all of the Purples, is thin, horny, and some- 
what oval in shape. This is a very distinct species, 
and may be easily recognized by its rounded and 
channelled whorls. In northern waters the speci- 
mens are somewhat more similar to the last species, 
but a little care will easily separate 
them. 

Another Purple, which lives in San 
Francisco Bay, but is more highly de- 
veloped a few hundred miles to the 
northward, is named tfhais lamellosa, 
Gmelin, the Wrinkled Purple, (Pur- 
pura crispata). A rather poor figure 
of a small specimen is shown in Fig- 
ure 170. Specimens from Puget Fig. 170.x i 




THE SMALLER SEA-SHELLS 



181 




Sound are beautifully frilled and richly painted with 
brown bands. The shells are strong and heavy, and 
they have an average length of an inch and a half 
to two inches. Some are nearly smooth, while others 
are extremely wrinkled. Though the smooth, white 
varieties are very plain in their appearance, some 
of the northern beauties, all frilled and banded as if 
to attract attention, are worthy of a place in any 
choice collection of handsome shells. 

Closely related to the Purples are the 
Unicorn-shells, a small group of mol- 
lusks which are almost exclusively con- 
fined to the west coast of America. 
Their former name referred to the fact 
that a little horn is developed on the 
edge of the outer lip, near the canal, as 
is well shown in Figure 171, of Mono- 
ceros engonatum, Conr., the Angled 
Unicorn, now called Acanthina engonata. These 
animals are usually found clinging to rocks under 
a heavy growth of seaweed. The shells themselves 
are almost the same color as the stones to which they 
are attached. The second name of this species was 
suggested by the fact that the whorls are sharply 
angled, quite in contrast to those of the next species. 
Acanthina lapilloides, Conr., the 
Pebbly Unicorn, {Monoceros lapil- 
loides), Figure 172, has a very pretty 
little shell, about an inch in length, 
with a spire of four whorls, a rather 
small aperture within which are sev- 
Fig. 172 eral knobs or teeth. It is well named. 



Fig. 171 




182 WEST COAST SHELLS 

for it distinctly resembles a rolled pebble of granite, 
and the word "lapilloides" means "like a little 
stone." It might properly be added that this 
species is so closely related to the last that it is 
sometimes difficult to certainly separate them, in 
which case doubtful specimens should properly be 
referred to A. engonata. An orange-colored vari- 
ety found on the rocks at San Pedro is called var. 
aurantia, Dall. Both of the foregoing species are 
now considered as varieties of Acanthina spirata* 
Blain. 

Acanthina lugubris, Sby., the Sad Unicorn, 
(Monoceros lugubre), is found in the extreme limit 
of our territory, though its true home is on the west 
coast of Mexico. It has a thick, heavy shell, about 
an inch long. The wall of the aperture is of a 
brown color, and it is marked with several rows of 
white tubercles. The little horn near the canal is 
very distinct. 

It is now our pleasant task to consider a few spe- 
cies of pure white shells, regularly marked with fre- 
quent varices. All of them are quite rare, but if 
you search along the shore you will probably have 
the good fortune to find one or more of them. 

The first one is shown in Figure 1 73, 
and is named Epitonium (Opalia) bore- 
alis, Gld., the Northern Opal-shell. It 
consists almost wholly of a long spire, 
composed of about eight whorls, each 
of which is crossed by eight blunt ridges, 
or varices. The aperture is entire, and 
Fig. 173 the rounded lips are sometimes stained 




THE SMALLER SEA-SHELLS 183 

by the rich purple juices of the animal. The oper- 
culum is a brown scale, nearly circular, and show- 
ing lines of growth. The color of the shell is white, 
and its common length is about an inch. 

In Figure 174 is shown the beautiful shell 
of Epitonium hindsii, Cpr., (Ecala hindsii), 
the White Wentletrap. It is pure white in 
color, very delicate, and is generally less 
than an inch in length. The whorls are Flg- m 
very distinct, finely rounded, and each one 
is crossed by about twelve thin, sharp ridges. These 
shells are so highly prized that they have been worn 
as the drops of ear-rings. There is a large Chinese 
wentletrap, as all of these white shells are called, 
that is so rare and beautiful that it has actually been 
sold for a hundred dollars, or even more. And it is 
even said that the astute Chinaman, — who from the 
days of Bret Harte has been called "peculiar," — it 
is said that he used to artificially construct a wentle- 
trap from a preparation of rice, which was so natural 
that many purchasers were deceived and thought 
that they had secured a valuable treasure. The 
White Wentletrap is found on the southern shores 
of California. 

Epitoniu?n indianorum, Cpr., (Scalaindianorum), 
the Indians' Wentletrap, is a species found more 
commonly in the north, especially about Puget 
Sound. It has a thicker shell than the last species, 
more whorls, more varices, and less prominent su- 
tures. The name Wentletrap is derived from a Dan- 



184 WEST COAST SHELLS 

ish word meaning "a spiral staircase." It has long 
been in use in literature, and it very properly takes 
the place of the old name, Ladder-shell, which itself 
was derived from the names Scala and Scalaria, both 
of which have now been laid aside. 

Epitonium bellastriatum, Cpr., {Scala bellastriata), 
the Striped Wentletrap, is easily identified from the 
fact that between the varices fine spiral ridges may 
be seen, winding upward toward the apex. The 
spire is short, the last whorl quite large, the varices 
very numerous, and the sutures so deep that they 
almost entirely separate the round whorls. The 
length of a grown specimen is 15 mm. My shells 
came from San Pedro, but it is also reported from 
Monterey. 

Epitonium crebricostatum, Cpr., (Scala crebricos- 
tata), the Close-ribbed Wentletrap, has a white, pol- 
ished shell, with about fifteen sharp, thin, reflexed 
varices to a whorl, which form a kind of crown at 
the shoulder. It is about the same size as the last 
species, and it is found from Monterey to San Diego. 

Epitonium (drctoscala) greenlandicum, Perry, 
the Arctic Wentletrap, has a larger and more solid 
shell. A specimen from Wrangel, Alaska, measures 
over an inch in length, and is nearly half an inch in 
diameter at the base. The shell is dull gray in color, 
strongly marked with spiral ridges, while the low, 
solid reflexed varices number about nine to the whorl, 
and the whorls are as numerous as the varices. 

Out on the wide ocean lives the Violet Snail, 
Janthina exigua, Lam. It is kept at the surface by 
a singular raft which it secretes, and it feeds upon 



THE SMALLER SEA-SHELLS 185 

small jelly-fishes. The shell is small, and is shaped 
much like that of a land snail. It is thin and deli- 
cate, and has a deep notch in the outer lip, The 
color is deep violet, quite unlike that of any other 
shell. Though it usually lives far out at sea, some 
shells get washed to the shore ; but they are compara- 
tively rare on our coast. Specimens of another spe- 
cies of Janthina, J. globosa, Swains, has been found 
on our southern shores. They should be carefully 
looked for by all collectors. 

Eulima micans, Cpr., the Shining Eulima, 
comes next on our list. This species has a 
beautifully polished and delicately tapering 
shell. The apex is very sharp, and the oval 
aperture is somewhat elongated. Large speci- 
mens grow to the size indicated by the cross in Figure 
175. The color is nearly all white, though the shell 
is somewhat dark near the apex. It could hardly be 
mistaken for any other species. It is found from 
British Columbia to San Diego. 

Eulima rutila, Cpr., the Red Eulima, resembles 
the last species, but is very small and slender. Its 
color is rosy, and the base of the shell is length- 
ened. It has been reported from Monterey, and per- 
haps from other localities. 

There are several other species of Eulima, the 
shells of which are small, being only a quarter ot an 
inch in length or perhaps even less. One of these 
is known by several synonyms: E. distorta, K. incur- 
va, and E. falcata. Its shell is curved, as all of these 
names indicate. It has a variety with the singular 
name of Eulima yod. 



186 



WEST COAST SHELLS 



Having studied small 
shells for some time we 
turn now to a large one, 
shown in Figure 176, 
named Scaphella stearnsii, 
Dall, Stearns's Volute. This 
great shell, which is nearly 
six inches long, comes from 
northern Alaska. The inner 
layer is purplish, while the 
outer, which resembles 
porcelain, is bluish white. 
Note the distinct folds on 
the columella. 

Scaphella arnheimi, Riv- 
ers, Arnheim's Volute, 
dredged from Monterey 
Bay a number of years ago, 
resembles the last species, 
but is only half the size. 
The color is yellowish, and 
the folds on the columella are four in number. It 
is to be hoped that more specimens of this fine species 
may yet be obtained from beautiful Monterey Bay. 
We are now to consider the Pyramidellidae, a 
family of small mollusks, having turreted shells with 
a plicate axis. The three principal genera are Pyra- 
midella, ^urbonilla and Odostomia. Most of the 
shells are too small to attract much notice, except 
from experts, and a careful examination of them 
must be made with the aid of a microscope if they are 




Fig. 176. x I (*) 



THE SMALLER SEA-SHELLS 187 

to be properly classified. Descriptions of a very few 
of the larger forms will now be given, and the names 
of some others which occur in our territory will be 
given in the alphabetical list of shells, near the end 
of the book. For a careful study of this family we 
are most happy to refer the student to Bulletin 68, 
of the United States National Museum, entitled, 
"A Monograph of West American Pyramidellid 
Mollusks by William Healey Dall and Paul 
Bartsch." It was published at Washington late in 
1909, after years of careful research. To learn more 
about it write to the Secretary of the Smithsonian 
Institution. 

Pyramidella adamsi, Cpr., (P. conica, var. 
variegatd), the Obelisk-shell. This little 
shell is shown in Figure 177. The surface 
is marked with fine lines of growth. There 
is an external fold on the columella which is F,g177 
not well shown in the little cut. The shell is brown- 
ish in color, somewhat clouded. It is found in south- 
ern waters, but it is quite rare even there. 

^urbonilla castanea, Keep, the Chestnut 

Turbonilla, is shown in Figure 178, the little 
/ fm cross denoting the true size of the shell. Its 
t (H eight or ten whorls are marked with numer- 
, 178 ous fine axial ribs, and though it is so small 

it is a beautiful shell. Its color is chestnut 
brown, as might be expected from its name. It is 
found at San Pedro and San Diego. The general 
shape of all the Turbonillas is shown in this figure, 
but they differ much in sculpturing, number o\ 
whorls, and other particulars. 



188 



WEST COAST SHELLS 



The Odostomias have polished, white 
shells, less slender than those of the last 
genus. On the columella is a fold like a 
Fig - 179 tooth, as their name indicates. There are a 
good many species, most of which are very small. 
One of the largest shells is rather poorly shown in 
Figure 179. It is known as Odostomia satura, Cpr., 
the Full Odostomia, (0. pupiformis). This shell is 
beautifully white, not very thick, with deep sutures 

and a microscopic net- 
work of extremely fine 
lines. It is about a quar- 
ter of an inch in length, 
and it ranges from Neah 
Bay to unknown distan- 
ces. 

Odosto??iia nuciformis, 
Cpr., the Nut-shaped 
Odostomia, is also a 
northern species, though 
it sometimes grows a lit- 
tle larger than the shell 
last mentioned. It is 
rather stout and inflated 
and has a large body- 
whorl. The shell is white 
and solid, and the colu- 
mella has a strong fold. 

Other species will be 

mentioned in the list, but 

it is hoped that these few 

Fig. 180 samples will be enough 




THE SMALLER SEA-SHELLS 



180 



to enable young collectors to determine at least the 
generic name of a good many small shells. 

Of a shy little Indian girl, in the village of Met- 
lakatla, Alaska, I bought the shaggy shell, a drawing 
of which is shown in Figure 180. Its name is Argo- 
buccinum oregonense, Redf., and it is otherwise 
known as Triton, tfritonium, and Priene oregonense, 
any one of which may mean the Oregon Triton. It is 
found in northern 
waters and it is a 
very unique spe- 
cies, easily recog- 
nized by its fusi- 
form shape, nu- 
merous varices, 
and its hairy, 
brownish epider- 
mis. The inside of 
the shell is pure 
white. It has been 
reported as far 
south as Monterey. 

Another fine 
Triton, a beautiful 
picture of which is 
shown in Figure 
181, is named 
Cymatium corru- 
gatum, var. trcni- 
peri) Dall, Trem- 
per's Triton. The 
shell is spindle- 




Fig. 181 



190 WEST COAST SHELLS 

shaped, the canal long and somewhat curved back- 
ward, and the operculum is oval and horny. There 
are large white teeth inside the outer lip. The epi- 
dermis is brown, the shell white, and the varices 
give the whole a somewhat triangular aspect. Its 
length is three and a half inches. It was taken, 
October, 1907, in the outer San Pedro Bay, from 
water forty feet deep, and it was living when cap- 
tured. It greatly resembles Triton corrugatum, Lam., 
which lives in the Mediterranean Sea. It is interest- 
ing to know that quite a large number of other shells 
from our coast closely resemble Mediterranean spe- 
cies. This shell was named in honor of Dr. R. H. 
Tremper, of Ontario, Cal., the owner of the unique 
specimen, who has kindly deposited the same in the 
National Museum. 

Another of Dr. Tremper' s rare specimens is Triton 
gibbosus, Brod, the Gibbous Triton. This shell has 
five whorls, the suture is extremely deep, the spiral 
ridges finely beaded, the aperture nearly circular, 
the canal long, nearly closed, and curved backward. 
There is no epidermis, the color of the shell is dark, 
while the varices are brown and white. Its length 
is two and one-fourth inches and its breadth is one 
inch less than its length. 

Gyrinium californicum, Hds., California Frog- 
shell, {Ranella calif ornica), is well represented in 
Figure 182. This fine shell is more common in the 
south, though some excellent specimens have been col- 
lected in Monterey Bay. The shell is very strong and 
solid, and on its surface are many knobs and ridges. 
It appears to grow forward about half a whorl and 




THE SMALLER SEA-SHELLS 191 

then pause and build up a thick 
lip. Leaving this ridge it goes 
on and completes the whorl, and 
then forms another varix. The 
result of this singular mode of 
building is a shell with two 
ridges extending from the apex 
to the canal, on opposite sides of 
the whorls, giving the front of 
the shell a somewhat flattened 
appearance. The external color 

. . ... Fig. 182 

is yellowish brown, but within it 
is white. The common length of one of these shells is 
three inches, though some of them grow to twice 
that length, and thus rank among our largest shells. 
Figure 183 gives us a somewhat enlarged repre- 
sentation of Pedicularia californica, Newc, the Cali- 
fornia Pedicularia. In this shell the aperture and 
outer lip are greatly extended, and the 
spire is completely hidden. The inside of 
the shell is smooth and glossy, but the out- 
side is slightly roughened. With the aid 

Fig. 183 r • & y & r 

or a microscope one may see a fine system 
of minute lines and meshes. Its color is peculiar for 
a shell, being a rich, rosy pink, very beautiful. These 
little shells are found on the stems of sea-fans, popu- 
larly known as corals, which are brought up from 
tolerably deep water. To these they cling like a 
parasitic insect; hence their name, which really 
means louse-shell. When fully grown the shell may 
be nearly half an inch long, though most specimens 
are much smaller. 





192 WEST COAST SHELLS 

Another fine shell found on our 
southern coast is the one shown in 
Figure 184, and which is named 
Cypr<za spadicea, Gray, the Nut- 
brown Cowry. It is our chief repre- 
sentative of the great genus which is 
so abundantly developed in the warm- 
er oceans. Cowries have smooth, well- 
Fig. 184 rounded shells and are great favorites 
with the children, who delight to use 
them as playthings. In fact, they have a great variety 
of uses, taking the place of money among some of the 
tribes of Africa, large, mottled ones being used by 
old ladies to aid them in darning stockings, while 
certain rare and beautiful specimens were formerly 
worn by the favored chiefs of cannibal islands as a 
token of royalty. Certain it is that large, showy cow- 
ries are now used by the natives of Hawaii as bait 
to lure the highly prized octopus to their hooks. In 
the cabinet of the naturalist there are few finer collec- 
tions than the drawer of choice cowry-shells. When 
young, the shells are thin and conical, with a short 
spire and a large aperture. As time goes on the outer 
lip increases in size and thickness, while the spire be- 
comes completely hidden under the advancing whorls. 
Coming back to our one cowry, we may say that 
in color the lips of this shell are white, while on the 
back there is a ring of dark brown, with a central 
part of a lighter shade of the same color. I have in 
my collection an unusually large specimen which is 
over two inches in length, but such a size is the excep- 
tion. This species is found in the south, but never 




THE SMALLER SEA-SHELLS 193 

in great numbers. It has also been found as far north 
as Monterey. When taken alive it is one of our most 
beautiful shells. Dead specimens, which have been 
knocked about and defaced, are far less bright and 
glossy. 

The little Coffee-bean shell, trivia 
calif ornica, Gray, two views of which are 
shown in Figure 185, is eagerly sought by 
many children, who search in the sands Fi ^- 185 
for pretty treasures. Like the real coffee- 
bean, one side is flat, while the other is rounded and 
plump. The surface is marked with a dozen sharp 
ribs, and the long, narrow aperture is set with many 
small teeth. The general color of the shell is reddish 
chocolate, though the interior is white. 

trivia solandri, Gray, Solander's Trivia, is a 
Mexican species, but it reaches as far northward as 
Santa Barbara. It resembles the last shell, but is 
twice as large, and is marked by a deep, longitudinal 
canal on the back of the shell. 

trivia ritteri, Raymond, Ritter's Trivia, has been 
dredged at various points along the coast of Califor- 
nia, chiefly in the vicinity of Catalina Island. The 
shell is small, white, well rounded, and is marked 
with about 20 sharp, narrow ridges. Its length is 
about ten millimeters. 

Somewhat like a very long and narrow 
cowry is our next species, named Ovula Jc- 
flexa, Sby., var. barbarensis^ Dall, the Pink 
Egg-shell, shown in Figure 186. In appear- 
ance it is unique, looking more like a roll oi 
Fig. 186 shell than a spiral whorl, and tapering almost 




194 WEST COAST SHELLS 

equally toward either end. The aperture is very long, 
the outer lip thickened, the spire concealed, and the 
sculpturing microscopic. The color is pink, and the 
length is rather less than an inch. It is found spar- 
ingly at Monterey, Santa Barbara, and elsewhere. 

A small species, usually of a purple color, is 
named Ovula variabilis, C. B. Ad., the Variable 
Ovula. It is probable that there are still other 
species or varieties of this difficult genus. 

We have two other species somewhat re- 
sembling the cowries. The first is named 
Erato vitelline Hds., the Yeally Erato, 
shown in Figure 187. The shell is pear- 
Fig. 187 shaped, or rather balloon-shaped, and it 
is quite smooth. It is of a dark reddish-brown color, 
though the toothed margin of the aperture is white. 
The ordinary length of the shell is about half an 
inch. Really good specimens are not numerous. 

Erato columbella, Mke., the Dove Erato, 
Figure 188, is very small and delicate, but is 
well worth searching for. As shown in the 
figure it has a visible, but short spire, and a 
long aperture with toothed lips. These are white, 
but the back is olive-brown. Dead shells may be 
rather frequently found, and living specimens have 
been obtained at low tide. 

Figure 189 gives us an enlarged view of 
Cerithiopsis tuberculata, Mont., the Tubercu- 
lated Horn-shell. This pretty little species 
has a small shell, about the length of the cross 
Fig. 189 shown in the figure. The spire consists of six 



THE SMALLER SEA-SHELLS 195 

or seven whorls, well sculptured, and is of a dark 
brown color; the sutures are conspicuous. 

There are several other species of these small 
shells, one of which, Cerithiopsis purpurea, Cpr., the 
Purple Cerithiopsis, is reported by Berry as being 
rather common at Pacific Grove, though the shells 
are dead. The nodules on the shell are fine, and it is 
stained with purple, giving rise to the name. 

Bittium filosum, Gld., the Threaded Bit- 
tium, is shown in Figure 190. This fine 
little mollusk may be found in large num- 
bers by turning over stones at low tide and Fig 190 
carefully searching for diminutive shells. 
It is seldom that a dead shell is found in such a posi- 
tion without a tiny hermit-crab inside, and at first 
glance it looks as if the shells were running away 
without any apparent means of propulsion. The 
shell is shaped like a short, stout thorn, and it varies 
in length from one-fourth to one-half of an inch. 
The whitish or brownish whorls are eight or ten in 
number, and are marked with slight, spiral grooves. 

Bittium esuriens, Cpr., the Hungry Bittium, is 
"like a starved filosum, very narrow, the adult 
scarcely sculptured." It is found all along the coast. 

Bittium quadrifilatum, Cpr., the Four-lined Bit- 
tium, is a southern species. In shape it is a regular 
but very slender cone, and the whorls are marked 
with four equal spiral threads which coil over slight 
cross-ribs. There are several other species oi this 
genus which are occasional 1)- found, and which differ 
chiefly in the sculpturing of the whorls. 



196 WEST COAST SHELLS 

Seila assimilis, C. B. Adams, the Threaded Seila, 
has a slender shell, ten millimeters in length, con- 
sisting of ten whorls, round which run three strong 
spiral ridges, winding from the apex to the aperture. 
It lives from Monterey southward to Panama. 



CHAPTER IX 

SHELLS WITHOUT CANALS 

It is always pleasant to find a living specimen of 
a mollusk about which you have been studying. To 
have an empty shell in your cabinet is a satisfaction, 
but it is much more satisfying if you can call upon 
the creature in his own home, observe his every-day 
life, see how he associates with his fellows, find out, 
if possible, when he gets up, what he eats for break- 
fast, what he is doing when the whistle blows for 
noon, whether he indulges in an afternoon nap, and 
all the other occupations and habits that he may 
choose to display, or that you are able to learn by 
watching him on the sly. By getting at these things 
you come to really know the animal, so far as such 
knowledge is possible. 

It is so right through life. The boy or girl who 
observes, watches, examines, and gets all there is 
out of any subject, is the one who will probably 
amount to something when he has become a man or 
she has become a woman. It does not matter so 
much what the thing is; it may be a shell or a seed; 
a sentence, a Latin verb, or a frog pond. It may be 
a map, an equation, or a sermon; the thing to do is 
to attack it with energy and learn all that you pos- 
sibly can from it. And you may be sure that there 
are very few things that do not conceal far more than 
is evident on the surface. My advice to every young 



198 WEST COAST SHELLS 

person who reads these lines is to attack each oppor- 
tunity with real enthusiasm, and to learn to get a 
tremendous amount of fun out of the most stubborn 
and dry looking duty that ever stood in your path- 
way. Most good things in life are not like soft 
boiled eggs, whose shells you can crack with a tea- 
spoon; on the contrary they are like hickory nuts, 
that require an anvil and a hammer if you are to get 
out the sweet meats, nice and whole. But this little 
sermon has led us far afield, so we will now return 
to our shells. 

My first opportunity to gather any of the shells 
mentioned in this book occurred many years ago. 
The place was a shallow arm of San Francisco Bay, 
and the shell was the one shown in Figure 191. 
I shall never forget the pleasure I felt as I saw them 
lying by dozens and hundreds on the surface of the 
mud, after the tide had gone down. They seemed 
to be enjoying the fresh air, and displayed no anxiety 
for the return of what we are accustomed to call 
their native element. Similar species in other coun- 
tries spend so much of their time in the air that they 
have been mistaken for land shells. 

The name of this species proved to be Cerithidea 
californica, Hald., the California 
Horn-shell. But I was as ignorant 
of the proper care of the shells as 
I was of their name; and a pretty 
source of trouble they were to me, 
for I had not learned how to clean 
them correctly, a process that has 
FiJ^I been explained on a previous page. 




SHELLS WITHOUT CANALS 199 

The shell in question is an inch or more in length, 
and consists of about ten strongly ribbed whorls. 
The outside is dull and black, but the inside is of a 
glossy brown. The aperture is entire, that is, it has 
no canal, and it is closed by a thin, brown, circular 
operculum. This species extends at least as far 
south as San Diego. There are several varieties, 
differing somewhat from typical shells, one of which, 
var. pullata, Gould, is heavily ribbed; another, var. 
kyporkyssa, Berry, is unusually smooth and tapering. 

tfrichotropis borealis, Br. & Sby., the Northern 
Hairy-shell. This species has a short spire, strongly 
shouldered whorls which are hairy on the ridges, and 
a distinct umbilicus. There are many varieties, but 
the average length is about one inch. This species 
inhabits the Arctic waters on both sides of the 
continent. 

tfrichotropis cancellata, Hinds, the Checked 
Hairy-shell, has a longer spire than that of the last 
species, consisting of about seven whorls. The epi- 
dermis, which is somewhat hairy, is light brown or 
grayish, and the aperture is 
often pink. It ranges from 
Alaska southward to Vancou- 
ver Island, where it is said to 
occur abundantly. 

Figure 192 shows us an en- 
larged view of Anaplocamus 
borealis, Dall, the Northern 
Anaplocamus. This singular 
shell, which much resembles 
some that live in fresh water, k^. 192 




200 WEST COAST SHELLS 

comes from considerable depths off the coast of 
Alaska. It is bluish white in color, but it has an 
olive-brown epidermis. 

Cacum calif ornicum, Dall, the California Tube- 
shell, is the next species to be considered. This 
singular species differs much from any that have 
gone before. The shell is a little white tube, 3 mm. 
long, slightly curved, and showing under the micro- 
scope that it is made up of many small rings. 

C&cum crebricinctum, Cpr., the Close-ringed Tube- 
shell, resembles the last species, but it is nearly twice 
as large, and it is marked with exceedingly fine 
rings, sometimes quite indistinct. Both of these 
species are found mostly in the south. 

Vermetus lituella, Morch, is the Crooked Worm- 
shell. This singular mollusk has an irregular, tubu- 
lar shell, which becomes attached to the side of a 
stone and twists itself into an ill-shaped, flattened 
cone. Several specimens are frequently found near 
one another. The shell is often angular and rough- 
ened; the aperture is circular, and is only one-eighth 
of an inch or less in diameter. The color, as in that 
of the following species, is a dingy white. 

Vermetus squamigerus, Cpr., the Scaly Worm- 
shell, is a very much larger creature. It is extremely 
irregular, many specimens frequently growing to- 
gether upon a rock, and looking like a heap of con- 
torted snakes. The shell is marked throughout its 
length by transverse, scaly ridges. The aperture is 
circular, one-fourth of an inch across. If the tube 
were straightened it would measure some four inches 
or more in length. The operculum is circular. I once 



SHELLS WITHOUT CANALS 201 

found a few living specimens at Monterey, but it is 
rare so far north. Many of these more uncommon 
species may be found by wading into the water at 
low tide, and turning up stones or bringing them 
out to dry land for closer examination. 

°turritella cooperi. Cpr., Cooper's Tower- 
shell, is shown in Figure 193. This south- 
ern species has a very slender, many 
whorled spire. The sutures are distinct, 
the aperture circular, and the outer lip 
sharp and thin. The color is yellowish, 
though it is somewhat spotted with brown. 
It can hardly be mistaken for any other 
shell. It is found on sandy beaches be- 
tween tides. 

'^achyrynclrius tenuisculptus, Cpr., the Flg - 193 
Little Tower-shell, is like a minute speci- 
men of the last, and is found on mud-flats along the 
southern coast. The usual length is less than one- 
fourth of an inch. 

We are now to study the Littorines, or Shore- 
shells, for that is what the name means. The}" are 
the first shells that you commonly meet when you go 
down to a rocky coast, for they perch high up on the 
rocks where they will get only a sprinkle of spray 
now and then, when the waves are quite strong. 
They do not stay there all of the time, to be sure, 
and they are quite at home under water; but as a 
general thing they prefer a roosting place where 
they will be uncovered most of the time. 

In genera] the littorines have fairly round shells, 
about the size of small peas. There is no canal ; but 



202 WEST COAST SHELLS 

the aperture is nearly circular in shape, and it is 
closed with a thin, horny operculum. As you find 
them perched upon the rocks, quietly resting till the 
time of the next high tide, you will note that a little 
part of the "foot" of the animal must be outside the 
shell, to enable him to cling securely to the rock. 
But the portion is very small, and just how the crea- 
ture fixes himself so that he will not roll off and at 
the same time not dry up is something to be in- 
vestigated. 

If you brush them off, however, the whole foot is 
immediately retracted, and the aperture is securely 
closed with the operculum. If you then put them in 
a bowl of sea-water or drop them into a tide- 
pool the little black animal quickly emerges from 
the shell and begins to rapidly creep along the 
smooth surface towards the upper air. Some of them 
will live a long time out of water, and can safely be 
sent from one port to another. 

The food of these little animals is vegetable mat- 
ter, especially the minute plants that form the thin 
green coatings upon the stones. This is scraped off 
by means of the little hooked teeth which grow upon 
the tongue, or ribbon, with which the mouth of most 
mollusks is provided. In respect to their food they 
present quite a contrast to the purples, nassas and 
other mollusks having siphons, that we have been 
considering. Those creatures are flesh-eaters, and 
they often use their sharp teeth as instruments to 
enable them to break into other mollusks' houses. 
And so we have a kindly feeling for the littorines 





SHELLS WITHOUT CANALS 203 

which properly live their quiet lives, without ever 
even attempting to murder their neighbors. 

Our first species, Littorina scutulata, Gld., 
the Checkered Littorine, is shown slightly 
enlarged in Figure 194. The shell is usually 
of a greenish or brownish gray color, with™ 

te to / ' Fig. 194, x 1 

more or less white bands or checks. Within 
the aperture the fresh shell has a decidedly purple 
tint. The shells differ greatly in size, young ones 
being very small, while you sometimes find old speci- 
mens as large as the picture. 

Littorina planaxis, Nutt., the Gray Lit- 
torine, is well shown in Figure 195. This 
species commonly has a somewhat larger 
. shell than the last, but it is easilv dis- 

Fig. 195, x i ' # J 

tinguished by the fact that it has a flattened 
columella, which seems to be dissolved away by the 
animal in advance of the growing whorl. The shells 
of this species are more rounded and less finely col- 
ored than those of the last, but the two are often 
found closely associated. Young specimens some- 
times have shells banded with white, but there need 
be no hesitation in determining the species, for the 
flattened columella is a sure mark of identity. 

The third littorine, which is found in northern 
waters, is named Littorina rudis, Don., the Rough 
Littorine. The shell of this bold northerner, in form 
and size, resembles a large pea. It is easily distin- 
guished from the last species by its rounded colu- 
mella, while its general surface, instead of being 
nearly smooth as in the last two species, is marked 
with a good number of more or less developed spiral 



204 



WEST COAST SHELLS 



ridges. Its color varies from white to black, but it 
is usually of a yellowish brown. The edge of the 
outer lip is always sharp and thin. I gathered a 
bottle of fine specimens at Old Kasaan, that strange 
old Indian village in Alaska. This species, which is 
also known as L. sitchana, Phil., comes down the 
coast as far as Puget Sound, and possibly farther. 
The other two are found all along the coast. 

Littorina pullata, Cpr., the Dark Littorine. This 
little species lives on the Mexican coast, but it has 
been found as far north as San Pedro. The shell 
resembles that of L. scutulata, but it is of a dark, 
reddish brown color, sometimes checked, and there 
are numerous very fine spiral lines of sculpture. It 
was described in 1864. 

Littorina aleutica, Dall, the 
Aleutian Littorine, Figure 196, 
is found in the far north, as its 
name indicates. The broad 
pillar, or columella, of the shell 
is white, the aperture is dark, 
while the outside of the shell is 
yellowish brown. An end view 
is given in Figure 197. The 
pictures are considerably mag- 
nified, the real diameter being 
about twelve millimeters. 

Another shell from the same 
locality is shown in Figure 
198. It is named Littorina at- 
kana, Dall, the Atka Littor- 
rine. It is a large shell, 20 mm. 




Fig. 196, x § (*) 




SHELLS WITHOUT CANALS 



205 




Fig. 1< 



(*) 



high, and its surface is nearly 
smooth. Most specimens are 
chestnut - brown throughout, 
but some have bands, as is 
shown in the figure. The colu- 
mella is broad- and white. 

Closely allied to the litto- 
rines are the little Chink- 
shells, a little picture of one 
of them being shown in Figure 
199. Its name is Lacuna uni- 

fasciata, Cpr., the One-banded Chink-shell. 

a It is a very little thing, about one-sixth of an 
^w inch in length, and it consists of but few 
Fig. 199 whorls. Externally it is brown and glossy, 
with the color broken into dots on the keel 
of the body-whorl. The aperture is semi-lunar in 
shape, and the flattened columella has a small um- 
bilical fissure, from which circumstance it receives 
its name. It is well worth looking for, and may 
often be found on sandy shores, while living speci- 
mens may sometimes be gathered at low tide. 

Lacuna porrecta, Cpr., the Wide Chink-shell, re- 
sembles the last figure, but is broader and more com- 
pact. The umbilical chink is large and the outer 
lip is extended. It is found living on kelp. 

Lacuna solid ul a, Lov., the Solid Chink-shell, is a 
species found chiefly in the north. It is large, having 
a shell nearly half an inch long. There are three or 
four whorls, smooth and strong. The umbilicus is 
small, the columella white in color, though the gen- 
eral surface is brown. 



206 WEST COAST SHELLS 

Lacuna variegata, Cpr., is the Striped Chink-shell. 
The shell of this species is tall, effuse, and it has a 
wide chink. In color it is clouded or has zigzag 
stripes. It lives on the coast of British Columbia, 
and it may be found on the green Zostera, or Eel- 
grass. 

Fossarus (Is a pis) obtusus, Cpr., the Obtuse Isapis, 
has a roundish little shell, a quarter of an inch long 
or less. The aperture is oval, and the outer lip is 
diversified by shallow, spiral grooves. There is a 
small umbilicus. The spire is small and few- 
whorled, and the color is light brown. 

Fossarus (Isapis) fenestrates, Cpr., the Windowed 
Isapis, resembling the last species, but is marked 
with sharp spiral ridges, about twelve of which may 
be seen on the body-whorl. The outer lip is thin 
and the umbilical chink is small. Its length is 8 mm. 
and it is 7 mm. in breadth. 

^runcatella Californica, Pfr., the California 
Looping-snail, lives about salt marshes and upon 
seaweeds and stones. The little cylindrical shell is 
smooth, light brown in color, with a horny opercu- 
lum, and is less than a quarter of an inch in length. 
The surface is smooth, and there are distinct sutures 
between the whorls. 

A far different shell is shown in 
Figure 200, which gives us an inside 
view of the tent-shaped shell of Cru- 
cibulum spinosum, Sby., the Cup and 
Saucer Limpet. The saucer is more 
or less deep, brownish in color, and 
Fig. 200 set on the outside with numerous 




SHELLS WITHOUT CANALS 207 

spines. The cup is small, white and triangular. This 
species assumes many forms, and is sometimes almost 
white and free from spines. It has been found as far 
north as Monterey, but its home is along the southern 
coast. 

Calyptr&a mamillaris, Brod., the Chinese Hat, 
has a white shell, of a low conical shape, running up 
to a point, while inside there is a twisted deck, thin 
and sharp, reaching nearly to the margin. Sometimes 
this shell has a diameter of an inch or more, though 
usually it is considerably smaller. It is said to ex- 
tend from Puget Sound to Central America, but it 
is not a common shell on our coasts. It was dredged 
by Lowe and Roper off San Pedro. This species is 
also known by the name Galerus ?namillaris. 

There is a large group of mollusks whose shells are 
somewhat turtle-shaped, with a floor built over a 
part of the lower surface. When turned over they 
somewhat resemble a Chinese slipper, with a place 
for the toes of the wearer's foot. So apparent is the 
resemblance that they are universally called Slipper- 
shells. 

Cr e pidula adunca, Sby., the 
Hooked Slipper-shell, Figure 201, is 
perhaps the commonest species. The 
apex is strongly recurved, suggesting Fig. 201 

the name, and the surface is brown, 
though the internal deck is white. L 
mens may often be found growing upon other shells, 
and sometimes they are found piled one upon another 
three deep. Young shells often have the apical hook 
quite pointed. Living specimens arc often found 




208 WEST COAST SHELLS 

perched upon the shell of the black turban, ^egula 
funebrale. 

Crepidula onyx, Sby., the Onyx Slipper-shell, 
somewhat resembles the last species, but in favorable 
locations it grows to a much greater size. The sur- 
face is somewhat roughened or shaggy, and the apex 
is on the very edge of the shell. Beautiful specimens 
are found in San Pedro Bay, some of them measuring 
fully two inches in length and an inch and a half in 
breadth. The inside is a rich, dark brown, very 
glossy, while the deck is as white as the purest mar- 
ble. There is another name, C. rugosa, Nutt., which 
is applied by some to these, or similar specimens, 
while by others rugosa is considered as a variety of 
onyx. Carpenter believed rugosa to be the northern 
form of the Mexican species, Crepidula onyx. 

Crepidula nivea, Gould, (C. navicel- 
loides, Nutt.), the White Slipper-shell, 
Figure 202, may easily be recognized by 
its color, its flattened shape, and by the 
thin and delicate deck, which is shown in 
the engraving. Sometimes this mollusk 
makes its home upon the rock and the 
back of his shell becomes rough and discolored; 
while again living specimens may be found within 
the aperture of a dead spiral shell, and then the 
slipper is smooth, curved, elongated, and almost 
transparent. This species is exceedingly variable, 
and numerous names have been given to it and its 
varieties. Its shell conforms to circumstances in a 
remarkable manner, being straight and narrow if it 
lives on such a shell as that of Glottidea albida, 




SHELLS WITHOUT CANALS 209 

spiral and thin if found in a dead tfegula, and rough 
and expanded if exposed to the waves. It may often 
be found under stones. Farther to the south it is 
sometimes marked with brown. I have chosen the 
name nivea, as it conforms to recent usage, though 
there is excellent authority for combining this species 
with the next. 

Crepidula lessonii, Brod., Lesson's Slipper-shell, 
resembles a long, narrow specimen of the last species. 
The shell, however, is thickened by a number of 
layers, partly detached at their edges. The color 
is white. There is also a short and heavy variety, 
known as var. explanata, Gould, which some con- 
sider as a distinct species. 

There is a small species of this extensive genus 
which has received the name of Crepidula dorsata, 
Brod., the Wrinkled Slipper-shell. It is nearly cir- 
cular in outline, thin and flat, with a small, curved, 
and partially detached deck. This wrinkled brown 
and white shell is about half an inch across. It is 
found at points all along the coast. 

Crepidula aculeata, Gmel., the Prickly Slipper- 
shell, is a small southern form. The yellowish- 
white shell has a low apex, curved to one side, and 
its surface is diversified with many irregular radiat- 
ing ribs. 

Capulus calif amicus, Dall, the California Cap- 
shell, is a recently discovered species, specimens o\ 
which are occasionally found in San Pedro Bay, 
usually clinging to the outside of a large pecten. In 
shape it resembles a very large Crepidula adunca, but 
there is no deck inside the shell. External Iv it has a 




210 WEST COAST SHELLS 

brown epidermis, somewhat shaggy, while within it 
is beautifully white. The length of this fine shell 
is an inch and a half. 

There is a series of white shells, dead 
specimens of which are abundant, which 
present a rather puzzling aspect, and 
which vary greatly in external appear- 
ance. They are not spiral to any extent, 
but appear like hollow cones, more or 
less flattened, with the apex to one side of the cen- 
ter. Some of them are singularly like a horse's hoof 
in shape, while others resemble Figure 203, which 
represents the species named Amalthea antiquata, 
Linn., the Ancient Hoof-shell, (Hipponyx antiqua- 
tus). Some specimens are less flattened than the 
picture, but all are more or less rough and scaly 
externally, while within you can see the muscle-scar 
in the shape of a horseshoe. The color is white, and 
the diameter is about half an inch. Occasionally 
living specimens may be found attached to a rock. 
They do not roost upon the rock directly, however, 
but upon a little shelly plate which the foot of the 
animal secretes and fastens firmly to the rock below. 
Amalthea cranioides, Cpr., the Flat Hoof-shell, 
resembles the last species, but has a still flatter shell, 
with the apex somewhat near the center, instead of 
at one side. Dead shells of this species, and even 
of the last, are liable to be confounded by the young 
collector with the upper valves of the Chama. Both 
shells are frequently thrown up by the waves which 
sweep over rocky ledges, and they look so much alike 
that one might almost be excused for making the 



SHELLS WITHOUT CANALS 



211 



mistake. An examination of the inside of the shell 
will quickly put to rest any doubt about the identity 
of the species, however, for the Chama has a hinge- 
tooth, while the Hoof-shell plainly shows the horse- 
shoe shaped muscle-scar. Some consider this species 
as only a variety of the last. 

Amalttiea tumens, Cpr., the Sculptured Hoof- 
shell, (Hipponyx lumens), has a much more regular 
shell than either of the others. The apex is recurved, 
and the lower part of the shell is somewhat bearded. 
Radial lines run from the apex to the edge, and they 
are crossed by lines of growth. Some specimens 
greatly resemble a short "horn of plenty." The shells 
are white in color, while the beard, if present, is 
light brown. The shells are seldom over half an 
inch in length. 

Figure 204 represents a 
large shell named Polynkes 
lewisii, Gld., L e w i s's 
Moon-shell. It is a mem- 
ber of the Natica family, 
all the members of which 
are distinguished for their 
ferocious nature, so that 
they might well be called 
snails of prey. 

Plowing along through 
the wet sand by means of 
its enormous foot, it no sooner reaches an unfortu- 
nate clam than the flint drill which it carries in its 
mouth is stretched out. and begins to accomplish its 
work of destruction. The helpless clam has no means 




Fig. 204 



212 WEST COAST SHELLS 

of flight from such an enemy, and if its hard shell 
is not a protection it is in a sad condition. And indeed 
the case is sad, for the limestone shell is no match 
for the quartz drill, and when he has reached the 
savory meat inside, the robber makes short work of 
his victim. A high-handed proceeding, no doubt; 
but then, it contrasts rather favorably with our way 
of opening clams and oysters. 

The size of this shell varies greatly with its age 
and condition. Specimens have been found as large 
as six-inch globes, but such giants are not common. 
They are ordinarily the size of average apples. The 
color is yellowish white, the surface nearly smooth, 
and the umbilicus is large. To stop the ample aper- 
ture there is a broad, horny umbilicus, brownish in 
color. The genus Polynices includes those shells 
of the Natica family which have horny opercula. 

Figure 205 shows us a fair- 
sized specimen of Polynices 
recluziana, Desh., the South- 
ern Moon-shell. This species 
is a southern form, more 
smooth and less globular than 
the last, and it is easily iden- 
Fig. 205^ titled by the thick, heavy 

patch of enamel which ex- 
tends down the columella, and nearly or quite fills 
the umbilicus. The shell is very solid and strong. 
In color it varies between white and brown. Its 
average length is perhaps two inches, though many 
specimens are smaller. The large operculum is thin 
and horn-like, without any trace of solid shell. 




SHELLS WITHOUT CANALS 



213 



Natica clausa, Brod. and Sby., the Closed Natica, 
is found on the coast of British Columbia, and in 
northern waters generally. It resembles Figure 204, 
but it is easily distinguished by its closed umbilicus 
and its shelly operculum. 

A m pull in a purpurea, 
Dall, the Purple Moon- 
shell, Figure 206, has a 
purplish shell, though the 
patches of enamel near the 
aperture are white, while 
the periostracum is olive, 
with darker streaks. It 
reaches a length of two 
inches and it is found in 
northern waters, as far as 
Point Barrow. 

Sinum deb His, Gld., the 
Frail Sinum, (Sigaretus 
debilis), has a delicate, pure 
white shell, very flat, with 

a small spire and a very large aperture. The shell is 
beautifully sculptured with fine rays crossing the 
lines of growth. Its breadth is an inch or more, and 
its home is in the south. 

Eunaticina oldroydii, Dall, Oldroyd's Natica, re- 
sembles Figure 204 in shape, and it is marked with 
almost microscopic sculpturing. It has been dredged 
at several places along the California shore, but is 
still a rare species. Compared with Polynices lewisii 
its shell seems very thin and delicate, indicating that 
it lives in deep and quiet water. The diameter is 
about an inch and a half. 




Fig. 206, x 1 (*) 



Fig. 207 



214 WEST COAST SHELLS 

Velutina l<zvigata, Linn, the Light Vel- 
vet-shell, is our next species, and its little 
shell is shown in Figure 207. The color is 
light brown, and the aperture is nearly cir- 
cular. In fresh specimens a velvet-like epidermis 
covers the shell. It lives in northern waters. 

hamellaria stearnsii, Dall, Stearns's Lamel- 
laria is rather poorly represented in Figure 
208. It is pure white, very thin, and has so 
large an aperture that the interior of the shell Fig. 208 
is plainly visible. During the life of the ani- 
mal the shell is wholly covered by the white, trans- 
lucent soft parts of the living creature. It has been 
reported from Monterey and San Pedro. 

In hamellaria diegoensis, Dall, the San Diego La- 
.mellaria, the soft parts are bright red in color, and 
the little shell is 17 mm. in diameter. The animal is 
much larger, though it is a comparatively small crea- 
ture. 

And now we have come to a very important class 
of shells, most of which are easily collected and all 
of which are interesting. But before describing 
any of them let me have a few words with my 
younger readers. 

Did you ever go camping in the summer? Did 
you and your friends ever get tired of living in 
one place all the year, and decide to take a tent and 
go out to some shady spot and have fun and 
fresh air and freedom for a little while?- I hope 
so, for there is nothing quite so good as a few days of 
tent life to brighten up all the rest of the year. 

Perhaps your tent was near a mountain stream, 



SHELLS WITHOUT CANALS 215 

where you could watch the speckled trout in the deep 
holes ; perhaps it was in the woods, where there were 
great trees watching over you that had been growing 
for centuries; perhaps it was by the seashore, where 
you could lie awake at night and hear the waves 
pounding away on the granite rocks or breaking into 
foam on the sandy beach; perhaps it was in a field, 
or even in a back yard; but anywhere under a tent 
there is a charm which you cannot get anywhere else, 
try as hard as you may. 

Now there is a whole group of mollusks which live 
in tents all their lives, and they always pitch their 
tents on the rocks. And each tent is just big enough 
for one camper to live in; and if the camper grows 
he builds on an addition to the edge of his tent, and 
keeps it just big enough to cover him whenever he 
settles down for a good night's rest. 

When you went camping you set up poles and 
spread the tent-cloth over them, and fastened all 
down with ropes and pins. But our little mollusk 
campers make their tents of shell, and they are so stiff 
and firm that there is no need of poles and ropes to 
keep them spread. 

These little campers are called limpets, and their 
coverings are sometimes called saucer-shells, for some 
of their empty tents when turned over might be used 
for little shallow dishes, like very small saucers. On 
the coast of Mexico there are sonic that arc large 
enough for mush-bowls, but they do not grow so large 
in our part of the ocean. 

The west coast of America abounds in limpets. 
Some species cling to rocks which arc seldom covered. 



216 WEST COAST SHELLS 

others live half of their lives under water, while a few 
must be sought at very low tide. Their dead shells 
are very common objects along the coast, for they are 
liable to fall victims to some wandering crab if they 
become washed from their footing. Though they 
creep around somewhat they usually return to the 
same spot to roost, and the protecting shell is seldom 
lifted to any considerable distance above the object 
to which they cling, and when they are at all dis- 
turbed they close it down with force and rapidity. In 
an especial manner these helpless animals must de- 
pend on their thick, hard shell to protect them from 
injury. 

Acmcza spectrum, Nutt., the 
Ribbed Limpet, lives far up on the 
rocks where it receives only a few 
splashings at high tide. It is gray in 
color, much like the granite to which 
it clings. Two views are given of its 
Fig. 209 shell, both of which represent unusu- 

ally large specimens. Figure 209 
gives a good view of the shell as it appears from 
above, while the other figure, 210, shows a side eleva- 
tion of the same. Internally the 
shell is chalky-white with various 
dark markings, which sometimes 

1 • ( M 155 J- Fig. 210 

bring out 'the owl very dis- 
tinctly. Look for a picture of that bird in various 
shells of this class. 

Limpets are easily collected if the}- are suddenly 
lifted by means of a broad-bladed knife, but if they 
have been previously startled it is best to let them 





SHELLS WITHOUT CANALS 



217 




Fig. 211 



alone, since you will be likely to break the shell if 
you persist in your endeavor. In some countries 
limpets are eaten, and vast numbers are used by the 
fishermen as bait. Notice carefully the broad foot, 
the mantle and gills, and the short head with its 
mouth and tentacles. If a specimen is dissected the 
lingual ribbon may easily be obtained from the 
mouth, and with a low power microscope the beauti- 
ful rows of teeth may easily be made out. After the 
animal has been removed from the shell observe the 
horseshoe-shaped muscle-scar. 
Acmcza patina, Esch., the 
Plate Limpet, Figure 211, is 
one of the most common 
kinds. The shell is oval and 
flattened, with an indistinct 

apex near the center. From this radiate fine striae, 
which are often quite indefinite. The shell is also 
often partly overlaid with brownish sea-growths. 
Young specimens are sometimes prettily checked with 
brown and green. Within the shell there are various 
markings of brown and bluish-white, with a dark ring 
around the edge. The common length of the shell 
is from an inch to two inches. 

Acmaca pcltcu Esch., 
the Shield Limpet, Figure 
212, is more conical and 
pointed than the last, and 
the outside of the shell has 
about twenty-five blunt, 
radiating ribs. External lv it is gray or striped, and 
is sometimes very beautiful; the inside is mainly 




Fig. 212 



218 . WEST COAST SHELLS 

white, though there is often a dark thread around the 
edge, and a brown spot in the center. A strange form 
is sometimes found in which the early growth of the 
shell seems to have been based on a different plan 
from that of the ordinary specimen, for it is smooth, 
brown, and has almost perpendicular sides like the 
limpets that grow on seaweeds; but after that it sud- 
denly changes to the ordinary form. It is probable 
that this was caused by a decided change in the abode 
of the limpet, perhaps from seaweed to the rock. 

A small, black, conical shell, supposed by Carpen- 
ter to be an abnormal growth of the young of the last 
species, is now known as Acmcza asmi, Midd., the 
Black Limpet. It is usually found living on the 
shells of the Black Turban, where its dark color keeps 
it from being conspicuous. It seems to be quite dis- 
tinct from the last species, being only a quarter of an 
inch in length, while the ordinary shells of that spe- 
cies are fully an inch long, and sometimes more. 

Figure 213 shows the shell of a 
large Acmcza persona, Esch., the 
Mask Limpet. This shell may be 
f^. 213^ distinguished by the position of 

the apex, which is situated very 
near one end, making nearly all the slope come upon 
one side, like the roof of an old-fashioned farm- 
house. The ribs on the slope of the shell are promi- 
nent but irregular. The outside is gray or mottled, 
and the inside has varying amounts of brown and 
white. The shell is high arched, but it is always 
small and seldom grows to the length of an inch, 




SHELLS WITHOUT CANALS 219 

This species is generally found living where the rocks 
are seldom covered with water. 

Acmcza scabra, Nutt., the File Limpet, is usually 
of a light brown color externally, while the inside is 
white. Sometimes the external brown is so light that 
it is almost yellow, while again the surface may be 
quite dark. The arch of the shell is generally low, 
like Figure 21 1, and there are fine, sharp, scaly ridges 
radiating from the apex, making the shell feel like 
the surface of a fine-cut file. Sometimes it is a little 
difficult to tell a shell of this species from one of 
A. patina, but if you can see the animal you will at 
once decide, for the head and mantle of the former 
are black, while those of the Plate Limpet are always 
white. The ordinary length is about an inch, and 
the low-arched shell is quite thin. Occasionally very 
aged specimens are found which have lost all their 
sculpture and have become very thick. They can 
be told, however, by the white appearance of the 
interior of the shell, if the fleshy parts have been 
removed or are lost. 

Acmcza mitra, Esch., the White 
Cap, Figure 214, generally lives be- 
low the tide-mark and is seldom 
found living, though I have occasion- 
ally found them at extreme low tide. Fig. 214 
The shell is pure white, fairly thick, 
and has a very pleasing appearance. Mam dead 
specimens arc washed up by the waves, and they 
always find plenty of admirers. Often the outside 
ot the living shell is covered witli a growth o\ small, 
hard seaweeds, making it rough or irregular, but 





220 WEST COAST SHELLS 

generally it is smooth. The size varies greatly, the 
figure representing a fairly large specimen, though 
occasionally an old one is found that is 
much larger. 

Acm&a incessa, Hds., the Seaweed 
Limpet, Figure 215, is a common spe- 
cies, and may be found living on the flat 
central ribbons of the great seaweeds 
Fig. 215 which are so conspicuous along the rocky 
coast. The sides of the shell are flat- 
tened and nearly smooth, and the apex is rounded. 
The shell is of a dark brown color throughout, and 
looks as if it were made of horn. It is seldom quite 
so large as the picture represents. 

When the tide is low the huge plants to which 
these shells are attached lie prone on the rocks, look- 
ing like a pile of feather boas. Each one of them 
has a very strong central rib, with numerous plumes 
on either side. These are mingled with egg-shaped 
air bladders, which serve to keep the upper parts of 
the plant afloat when the tide is in. It is to this flat 
and extremely tough central portion that the little 
limpets love to cling, swaying backward and forward 
with the swing of the billows. 

There are other seaweeds which help to cover 
the rocks, the most common one being a stout, brown- 
ish plant, sometimes called kelp, but whose real name 
is Fucus. It is an exceedingly ancient organism, being 
but little changed from plants that grew in the ocean 
long before the time of man. Then there are others, 
some of them red and others green; this one, broad 
and strong like a piece of leather, while its neighbor 



SHELLS WITHOUT CANALS 221 

is delicate as a skein of silk. The marine plants are 
very interesting, every one of them, and are worthy 
of careful study. As we ramble among the rocks 
seeking after shells it is pleasant to know and admire 
the plants among which they are most likely to be 
found. 

Acmaa instabilis, Gld., the Unstable Seaweed- 
Limpet, is larger than the last species. The shell is 
more limpet-shaped, but it is narrow and compressed 
at the sides; its surface is smooth, and its color is 
brown on the outside and white within. Its length is 
three-fourths of an inch. 

Acm&a depicta, Gld., the Painted Limpet, has a 
very narrow shell, with straight, flat sides. In color 
it is nearly white, with fine brown stripes radiating 
from the apex. It is a little shell, being only from 6 
to 12 mm. in length. It is a southern species, and it 
may be found at low tide clinging to the tough and 
narrow blades of grass which grows in certain 
shallow places along the edge of the sea. This so- 
called eelgrass is not a true grass at all, but a species 
of Zostera, which belongs to the Pondweed family. 
But it does produce true flowers and seeds, though 
they are not very conspicuous, and that is more than 
most of the plants which grow in salt water ever do. 
All the seaweeds are mere algae, and they reproduce 
by means ol spores, which are far simpler objects 
than seeds. Moreover they lack certain organs, not- 
ably a vascular system, or set of little tubes, which 
the higher plants always possess. Cut one oi the sea- 
weed stalks across and you will sec that it is very 



222 



WEST COAST SHELLS 



different from such a stem as a willow possesses, with 
pith and rings of minute tubes. 

Acm&a paleacea, Gld., the Chaffy Limpet, has a 
very small shell resembling that of the last species, 
but still narrower. It is brownish in color, without 
stripes, and an average specimen is 7 mm. long. 
Actnaea triangularis, Cpr., is probably a variety of 
the same species. 

The largest limpet 
found on our coast is the 
one whose shell is shown 
in Figure 216. Its name 
is Lottia gigantea, Gray, 
and it is commonly 
known as the Owl-shell. 
On the outside it is usu- 
ally rough, brown and 
unsightly; but within it 
is very dark and lustrous, 
and it has a bluish-white 
center marked with 
brown. In many specimens the part within the big 
muscle-scar greatly resembles a horned owl sitting 
upon his perch. The shell is rather flat, and the 
apex is near one end. The length of the shell is 
sometimes as much as three inches, though commonly 
it is much less. When properly polished, these shells 
make very pretty bowls for ornamental spoons. 




Fig. 216 



CHAPTER X 

TOPS AND TURBANS 

We now come to a great group of shells quite 
unlike any that we have previously considered. In 
the first place the shells of nearly all of these mol- 
lusks are lined with a more or less iridescent mother- 
of-pearl. In some species the prevailing color of it 
is green and in others it is red, while in a few the 
shell is nearly white; but in any case if you turn 
the shell in the sunlight you will get glimpses of 
rainbows with their varying tints, sometimes feeble 
but never absent. In most cases this feature of the 
inner shell remains not only long after the death of 
the animal, but long after the shell itself has crum- 
bled into scales and fragments, through exposure to 
the weather. 

The ordinary colors of shells are usually quite 
permanent but they differ materially in certain re- 
spects. Some colors are found only on the surface of 
the shell, or at most they penetrate but a very little 
distance. Others go down deep and seem to be made 
by a mixing of the dye with the substance of the 
shell, as it is moulded by the mollusk artist. A good 
example of this is seen in the Purple-hinged Pecten, 
which has been described on a previous page, in 
which the rich color remains in the little fragments 
of the shell that may be found among the sands oi 
the beach. 



224 WEST COAST SHELLS 

But the iridescent colors of mother-of-pearl are 
due to quite another cause. There is no dye-stuff 
about it; nothing but extremely thin layers of shell 
overlapping one another like the shingles of a micro- 
scopic roof. But these projecting shingle-ends so 
shiver the beams of sunshine into their primary colors 
that the white light is sent off in its parts, red, blue, 
green and other tints, just as we see them in the 
rainbow. And therefore as we turn the shell so as to 
bring its surface to the eye at a new angle we get 
changes of color, because we get a different reflection. 
Many sea-shells are nearly white, some have distinct 
but solid colors, but the shells described in this chap- 
ter, together with the pearl oysters and a few others 
are the true pearl-makers of the world. 

Many of the shells of these pearl-makers take the 
form of turbans or tops, and each little creature has 
a special front door which he closes whenever he par- 
ticularly desires to be alone. The apertures of nearly 
all of these shells are nearly circular, and are wholly 
without canals ; which is a pretty good proof that the 
inmates should be classed with the vegetarians. The 
opercula of a few of our species are solid and shelly, 
while in most species they are more like a scale of 
horn. We begin our descriptions with those of the 
first kind, and it happens that our very first shell is 
an exception to the general law, and has a perfectly 
white interior, without a rainbow of any kind. 

Phasianella conipta, Gld., the Pheasant- 
shell, Figure 217, may sometimes be found 
alive on sea-grass, though dead shells are 
Fi g . 217 more common. When alive, there is a dull 



TOPS AND TURBANS 



225 




epidermis which obscures the beauty of the shell, 
which is richly painted with little zigzag stripes of 
red, brown and white. There is also a little white, 
solid operculum, almost hemispherical in shape, the 
convex side being outward. The length of the whole 
shell is from 3 to 6 millimeters. 

Astr<za undo- 
sa, Wood, (Po- 
maulax und o- 
sus), the Wavy 
Topshell, F i g- 
ure 218, is a 
southern species, 
which some- 
times grows to a 
great size. The 
whorls are 
crossed and va- 
ried with numerous wavy ridges, and the base is 
ornamented with beaded circles. The shell is of 
whitish pearl and is covered with a brown, fibrous 
epidermis. The operculum is horny within, while 
the shelly outer part is strengthened by two heavy, 
curved ribs. The cut represents a medium sized 
specimen, but they are sometimes as much as four 
inches in height. 

Astr&a in&qualiS) Mart., {Pack ypoma in<z~ 
quale), the Red Top-shell, Figure 2 19, has a big, 
strong, brick-red shell, with a hard operculum, some- 
what like that of the last species, but lacking the 
ribs. Living specimens are seldom found near the 
shore, but dead shells, somewhat broken, arc often 



Fig. 218 



226 WEST COAST SHELLS 




Fig. 219 (*) 

thrown up by the waves, especially around sunken 
ledges. It is said to be more abundant in the vicinity 
of Vancouver Island, where the Indians formerly 
used the white opercula for ornamental purposes. 
The base of the shell is marked with deep, concen- 
tric furrows. The shells of this species are quite 
variable, some specimens lacking the sculptured fillet 
shown in the engraving below each suture, while 
the form of other specimens is much depressed. The 
picture represents an unusually large specimen. 

Concerning the name of this species and that of 
the last, it is proper to remark that the old names, 
which are inclosed within parentheses, can be used 
with great propriety still. The proper name of 
the genus is now considered to be Astr<za, which was 
given by Bolten in 1798; while the name Pachy- 
fioma, given by Gray in 1850, is now reckoned as 
the name of a subgenus. Sometimes the names of 
both genus and subgenus appear, and Dr. Dall 
writes the name of this species "Astraa (Pacliypo- 



TOPS AND TURBANS 



227 



ma) in<z quale" If the name of the genus only 
appears the name of the species should agree with it 
in gender, hence the different endings which may 
sometimes be a little confusing to one who is not 
familiar with the Latin language. 

From a large shell we turn to a very small 
one, Leptothyra carpenteri, Pilsbry, the Red 
Turban-shell, shown in Figure 220. The Fig. 220 
whorls of this little shell are few in number, 
and they are marked with fine, distinct, spiral ridges. 
The little operculum is solid and shelly. The color 
is reddish, sometimes distinct and sometimes banded 
or faded. This species may be found at low tide, 
living upon rocks, but the hermit crabs bring up 
many more dead specimens. 

Leptothyra baccula, Cpr., the Berry Turban-shell, 
is shaped like the last, but it is smaller, being only 
one-eighth of an inch in diameter. It is nearly 
smooth, dark or ashy in color, and it is found in the 
south, especially around Catalina Island. 

Norrisia nor- 
risii, Sby., the 
Smooth Turban- 
shell, Figure 
221, is another 
southern species. 
The sh e 1 1 is 
quite smooth 
and is of a rich 
brown color ; the 
rim of the um- 
bilicus, however, 




Fig. 221 



228 



WEST COAST SHELLS 




Fig. 222 



is curiously tinted with a bright green. The brown 
operculum is very shaggy, and the animal is beauti- 
fully tinged with red. Taken as a whole this is a 
very beautiful and interesting species. The figure 
represents a comparatively large specimen. One very 
small specimen was found by Berry in Monterey Bay 
at a depth of twelve fathoms, but I have never seen 
it upon the shore so far north. 

Some of our choicest shells be- 
long to the next genus, and one 
of the prettiest of all is named 
Calliostoma annulatum, Mart., 
the Ring Top-shell. Figure 222 
represents a large specimen of 
this shell, which is thin and deli- 
cate, light brown in color, while 
the sutures are marked with a rich line of purple, 
and the whorls are traced with sculptured points. It 
is seldom found on the beach, but is obtained from 
the seaweed at some distance from the shore. Too 
delicate to bear the 
beating of the surf upon 
the rocks, its home is in 
deep water, where it 
clings to long seaweeds 
near the surface, though 
when the weather is 
rough it sinks to more 
quiet abodes. 

Quite similar in gen- 
eral form and habits is 
the Channeled Top- 
shell, Calliostoma ca- Fig. 223 x % (*> 





TOPS AND TURBANS 229 

naliculatum, Mart., an enlarged view of which is 
shown in Figure 223. The shape of this shell is 
strictly conical, and the flattened whorls are girdled 
with deep spiral channels, which lie between raised 
ridges. The surface is ash-colored, though the shell 
is rainbow-tinted within. The thin exterior layers 
may very readily be removed by a weak acid if one 
wishes to examine the deeper structure of the shell. 

Figure 224 presents to us another 
shell of this genus, Callio stoma co sta- 
tion, Mart., the Blue Top-shell. This 
species is smaller than either of the 
preceding members of the genus, and it 
lives nearer the shore. Hence we Fi g .224~ 
should naturally expect to find that it 
had a thicker and stronger shell than the others, 
and in this we are not disappointed. It has four 
rounded whorls, marked with fine spiral ridges. 
The thin, reddish brown outer coat is readily re- 
moved, showing the blue pearly layer underneath. 
This process is often accomplished naturally, and 
broken shells especially show more or less of the 
blue coloring, especially round the apex. 

I have found very fine living specimens hanging 
from the roof and walls of a rock grotto after it had 
been left empty of water by the retreat of the early 
morning tide. T have also gathered them from the 
long seaweeds that grow near the rock) shore. The 
length of one of these shells is three-fourths of an 
inch. The horn}' operculum is perfectly circular, 
and the aperture of dead shells is often inhabited by 
a thin variety oi the White Slipper-shell. 



230 



WEST COAST SHELLS 



Calliostoma gemulatum, Cpr., the Gemmed Top- 
shell, is of a conical shape, the whorls of the shell be- 
ing ornamented with spiral strings of granules or 
beads, each whorl having two principal rows, with 
several smaller ones. The color of this southern 
shell is gray, with some dark cross stripes running 
down from the apex. Its height is only 15 mm. or 
less and it is seldom found in large numbers. 

Calliostoma glo- 
riosu?n, Dall, the 
Glorious Top-shell, 
Figure 225, is the 
name of the fine 
species which is oc- 
casionally found on 
the California coast. 
The engraving 
shows no color 
painting, and as it 
is so much enlarged 
the granules appear 
much too promi- 
nent. The color of 
specimens found in 
Monterey Bay is light salmon, while around the su- 
tures and the angle of the lower whorl is a chain 
of roundish dark spots, with the lighter spaces be- 
tween them. In San Pedro Bay the shells are darker. 
The height of a grown specimen is fully an inch. 

In the first edition of this book this species was 
called C. supragranosum, Cpr. The latter name, how- 
ever, proves to belong to a rare species having a much 




Fig. 225, x I (*) 



TOPS AND TURBANS 



231 




Fig. 226 



smaller shell. It is light chestnut-hrown in color, 

with a peripheral circle of alternating chestnut and 

white spots. It is found in the south, especially on 

the breakwater at San Pedro, and may be known 

as the Granose Top-shell. 

Calliostoma tricolor, Gabb, the 

Three-colored Top-shell, is well 

shown in Figure 226, while Figure 

227 gives a magnified view of another 

specimen. The shell is conical, its 

five whorls little raised but marked 

with delicate spiral sculpturing. The 

background of yellowish 
gray is ornamented with 
fine spiral threads of 
color, broken into alter- 
nate joints of purple and 
white, thus giving it the 
three-colored aspect. It 
is a southern shell and is 

Fig. 227, x f (*) 



obtained by dredging. 
Figure 226 represents 
a large specimen. 

Calliostoma varie- 
gatum, Cpr., the Va- 
riegated Top-she] 1, 
Figure 228, was origi- 
nally described from a 
very small specimen 
taken in Puget Sound. 





Fig. 22s. \ \ (*) 



232 



WEST COAST SHELLS 



Of late years, however, it has been found off San 
Pedro, where specimens reach an altitude of over an 
inch. The top of the growing shell is rose-colored, 
and the rest is yellowish white, but as age advances 
it gradually loses its brightness and appears of a 
yellowish pink, with pearly iridescence showing 
through. 

Calliostoma platinum, 
Dall, the White Top-shell, 
is shown, somewhat magni- 
fied, in Figure 229. This 
line species was dredged by 
the "Albatross" expedition 
from a depth of about half 
a mile of water near the 
Santa Barbara Islands. The 
shell is large, very thin, pol- 
ished, and of a whitish col- 
or, tinged with green or 
blue. 

230 represents an- 




Fig. 229, x $ (*) 



Figure 

other rare shell dredged off the 
the coast of southern Califor- 
nia. Its name is Calliostoma 
turbinum, Dall, the Turbaned 
Top-shell. It is a small species, 
the shell being only 12 mm. 
high. The bodv of the shell is 



waxen, showing nacre, and it is ig 



ornamented with certain small 
flamules of dark brown not 
shown in the engraving. 




Fig. 230, 



(*) 



TOPS AND TURBANS 



233 




Fig. 231, x f (*) 



Callio stoma s filend ens, 
Cpr., the Shining Top- 
shell, is shown very 
greatly magnified yi Fig- 
ure 231. This species of 
mollusk has a small shell, 
about the size of a small 
pea. It is of an orange- 
chestnut color, with fleshy 
or bluish nacre. It is a 
rare shell, found at Mon- 
terey and southward and has sometimes been con- 
sidered to be only a variety of C. costatum. 

^urcia cajfea, Gabb, the CofTee-brown Top-shell, 
(tfhaliota cajfea). This is a rare shell, resembling 
a Calliostoma, but it has two folds on the colu- 
mella, which forms a distinguishing mark. The 
whorls are flattened, the sutures deep and bearded, 
the epidermis coffee-brown in color, and the nacre, 
or mother-of-pearl, of a greenish tint. Its greatest 
height is 19 mm. Its home is on the California coast. 
Margarites pupilla, Gld., the Little 
Margarites, {Margarita pupil la), Figure 
232, is a northerner living in Puget Sound, 



Fig. 232 



but sometimes coming further south. 



It 

is yellowish brown or ashen in color, and its four 
whorls are marked with spiral ridges. The umbili- 
cus is distinct, but small, and the aperture is nearly 
circular. Its height is sometimes as great as half an 
inch. 

Margarites kelicina, Fabr., the Helix Margarites, 
{Margarita hclirina), is decidedly arctic in its 



234 



WEST COAST SHELLS 



tastes, living on the shores of northern Europe, 
eastern America, and around Bering Strait. The 
shell is umbilicate, thin, flesh-colored, polished 
and shining. It is a little affair, its height being 
only 6 mm., and its diameter a little more. 

Mjrgarites lirulata, Cpr., the Lirulate Marga- 
rites, (Margarita lirulatd). This very variable spe- 
cies has a globose-conical shell, solid, purplish, or 
more or less variegated. The surface sometimes 
has spiral ridges, or lyrae, though sometimes it is 
nearly smooth. The suture is impressed, the body- 
whorl convex beneath, the aperture oblique and 
very iridescent within. The diameter is 4 or 5 
millimeters. This species, which lives chiefly in the 
middle north, includes forms which were formerly 
known as Gibbula succincta, Gibbida parcipicta, 
and several other species. 

.1 Iargarites vorticifera, 
Dall, the Flattened Marga- 
rites, Figure 233, has its 
home in Bering Sea and ad- 
jacent northern regions. 
The shell is decidedly flat- 
tened, and is of a salmon- 
pink color, very pearly, and 
has a diameter of nearly an 
inch. 

We now come to the ge- 
nus Tcoi/hu under which is 
the subgenus Chlorostoma, 
which literally means 
Fig. 233, x i (*) Green-mouth, the reference 





TOPS AND TURBANS 235 

being to the pearly tint of the aperture. It is a very 
important genus for our coast, some of the species 
being represented by innumerable specimens, though 
others are comparatively rare. In our description 
both the older and the newer name will be given, 
so that there will be no confusion. 

^egula funebralis, A. Adams, 
(Chloro stoma funebrale), the 
Black Turban-shell, Figure 234, 
is extremely common on the cen- 
tral coast of California. Its 
shell is strong, for it lives on the 
rocks midway between high and y\Zxa 

low tides, where it frequently 
gets a vigorous lashing by the waves. In some places 
it is so abundant that I have seen rocks almost 
black with them, all ages and sizes lying close 
together. 

On nry first visit to the seaside I wanted them 
all, so I gathered specimens and cleaned shells for 
hours. Two very natural results followed: first, 
that there remained apparently as many as there 
were before I began operations; and second, that on 
subsequent visits I gathered few. But whether we 
collect them or merely watch their movements and 
study their habits, they soon become like old friends 
to anyone who has learned the pleasant art of put- 
ting himself in sympathy with the lower animals. 

The color of the shell is dark purple, almost 
black on the outside, and there is a greenish-white 
pearly layer beneath. The whorls are four in num- 
ber, ol which the uppermost one or two arc fre- 



236 



WEST COAST SHELLS 



quently somewhat eroded. The body-whorl is 
puckered near the suture, the umbilicus is nearly 
closed, and the columella is set with two little white 
knobs near its base. The common length of the 
shell is less than an inch, but sometimes old speci- 
mens are found which are considerably higher. 

The variety subaperta, Cpr., differs from the regu- 
lar form in having more prominent spiral ridges, 
which are usually more roughened, and in having 
a prominent umbilical pit. It lives in the Vancou- 
ver district. 

^iegula gallina, Fbs., (Chlorosto- 
na gallina), the Speckled Turban- 
shell, well shown in Figure 235, is 
a southern species, with a solid shell, 
mostly black in color, but finely mot- 
tled with a lighter shade like the 
feathers of a speckled hen, as its 
name indicates. Var. tincta, Hemphill, has a streak 
of yellow on the base, just below the columellar 
teeth. 

tfegula bru tinea, Phil., (Chlo- 
ro stoma brunneutri), the Brown 
Turban-shell, Figure 236, is a fine 
species, living on the rocks which 
are exposed only at very low tide, 
or on the seaweed. It has a hand- 
some, rich brown shell, with a por- 
tion of white around the aperture. 
The lines of growth are very oblique, and are easily 
recognized. The figure represents a large specimen, 




Fig. 235 




Fig. 236 



TOPS AND TURBANS 237 

though occasionally very old specimens are found 
that are even larger. 

^egula aureotincta, Fbs., (Chlorostoma aureo- 
tinctum), the Gilded Turban-shell, is a southern 
species with a shell resembling the last figure. There 
are however, a few quite prominent spiral ridges with 
more or less wavy crossings. The color of the shell 
is gray, or sometimes almost black. The distinguish- 
ing feature is a large umbilicus, which is marked 
with a bright yellow stain, a circumstance which 
doubtless suggested the name of the species. The 
diameter of the shell is about an inch. 

tfegula montereyi, Kien., (Chlorostoma mon- 
tereyi), the Monterey Turban-shell, was formerly 
known as Chlorostoma pfeifferi. The shell of this 
rare species is strictly conical, with whorls almost 
perfectly flat. The circular base likewise is flat and 
nearly smooth, though marked with almost obsolete 
spiral lines. The columella does not spread around 
the umbilicus, which is funnel-shaped, white within, 
and its edges defined by an angle. The color is light 
brown or olive, and the height of the shell, which 
about equals its diameter, is an inch or more. 

tfegula pulligo, Mart., (Chlorostoma pull/go), the 
Dusky Turban-shell, much resembles the last species. 
Its seven whorls are flattened, its base slightly con- 
vex, smooth without lining, obliquely streaked, con- 
cave and white around the deep and wide umbilicus, 
which gradually expands and is partly covered with 
a white callus, and has no spiral ridge within. The 
color is dull purplish or brown, often appearing 
orange when worn. The height of a large specimen 



238 



WEST COAST SHELLS 




Fig. 237 



is 35 mm., and its breadth is 32 mm. Specimens 
from Monterey have been found which are distorted 
in form and dark red in color. The ordinary form 
is found around Vancouver Island, though the spe- 
cies seems to have a wide range. 

tfegula viridula, var. ligulata, 
Mke., (Chlorostoma vmdulum), the 
Banded Turban-shell, is well shown 
in Figure 237. It is the same shell 
that was formerly called Omphalitis 
fuscescens. It has a strong, solid, 
turban-shaped shell, whose rusty 
brown whorls are banded with raised spiral lines. 
These lines are broken or beaded, and sometimes are 
dotted with black, giving the shell a very character- 
istic appearance. The operculum, as in nearly all 
of the species of this group, is thin, horny, and cir- 
cular. The umbilicus is large and distinct, while 
the lower part of the circular aperture is marked 
with rounded knobs. 

Solariella peramabilis, Cpr., the Lovely Solariella, 
has a small turban-shaped shell which is greatly or- 
namented with delicate sculpturings. The aperture 
is perfectly round, and the whole 
shell appears like a growing tube 
coiled around an open umbilicus. 
The spiral ridges of the whorls 
are crossed by innumerable fine 
lines. Externally the shell is 
gray, while within it is rainbow 
colored. From one-fourth to 
one-half of an inch across. It Fig. 238, x ? <*> 




TOPS AND TURBANS 



239 




has been dredged in moderately deep water off Cata- 
lina Island. 

Solariella oxybasis, Dall, the Pointed Solariella, 
Figure 238, has an acute spire, a small umbilicus, and 
an angulated aperture. Its altitude is 13.5 mm., and 
it was dredged off the Santa Barbara Islands. 

Curricula bairdii, Dall, Baird's 
Turban-shell, Figure 239, is one 
of the finest deep-water species 
that has been discovered re- 
cently. The shell is large, thin, 
somewhat eroded at the apex 
and covered elsewhere with a 
light yellowish-brown epidermis, 
slightly inclined towards green. 
Many specimens were obtained 
by the "Albatross" expedition 
off San Clemente Island, in water 300 to 400 fathoms 
deep. The figure represents a specimen of average 
size, but some are quite a little larger. 

Gibbula canfieldi, Dall, Canfield's 
Turban-shell, Figure 240, is an ex- 
tremely rare shell. In fact, until re- 
cently, only two specimens were 
known; one of which was collected 
at Monterey by Dr. Dall, and the 
other by Mr. Button, of Oakland. 
It occurs also as a fossil. Possibly some reader of 
this book may discover it anew. The color of the 
shell is pearly, with bronze-yellow pencillings ar- 
ranged obliquely to the suture. The height is ten 
millimeters. 



Fig. 239 (*) 




Fig. 240, x 



240 



WEST COAST SHELLS 




Fig. 241, x I (*) 



Halistylus pupoides, Dall, the 
Pupa Sea-style, Figure 241, is an- 
other species that is seldom found in 
California, though it is plentiful in 
British Columbia. It has a little 
shell only 6 mm. long, and its ap- 
pearance is well shown in the greatly 
magnified engraving. 

Liotia fene strata, Cpr., the Win- 
dowed Liota, has a small, flattened, 
whitish shell, cut into numerous 
square pits by the crossing of ribs 
and lines. Its diameter is one-eighth of an inch. 
Liotia got tiros tat a, Cpr., the Sharp-ribbed Liotia, 
is smaller than the last, less flattened, and is marked 
with sharp, spiral ridges, but without cross-lines; 
its color is whitish. 

Vitrinella williamsoni, Dall, 
Williamson's Vitrinella, Figure 
242, has a small, white, de- 
pressed shell, $.$ mm. in diame- 
ter. Its surface is polished. It 
was found on the beach at San 
Pedro, and was named in honor 
of Mrs. M. Burton William- 
son, of Los Angeles. 

Vitrinella oldroydi, Bartsch, 
Oldroyd's Vitrinella, resembles 
the last, but is smaller and rela- 
tively thicker; it has three and three-fourths whorls. 
It has been found at San Diego, San Pedro and 




Fig. 242, x 



TOPS AND TURBANS 241 

farther south. It was named in honor of Mrs. T. S. 
Oldroyd of Long Beach. 

Vitrlnella esclinauri, Bartsch, Eschnaur's Vitrin- 
ella, is about the same size as the last, but the 
whorls stand higher and are thin; it is glassy and 
almost transparent. The diameter is about two 
millimeters. It was named for Mrs. Eschnaur, who 
dredged it at Terminal Island, though the type was 
collected by Mrs. Oldroyd at San Pedro. And so 
these three little shells represent three ladies, all of 
whom live in Los Angeles or in that vicinity. 



CHAPTER XI 

PIERCED SHELLS AND CHITONS 

We have now come to the largest and finest shells 
on the coast. They are locally known as Abalone- 
shells, while the translation of the scientific name 
makes them "Sea-ears." 




Fig. 243 



Figure 243 represents our most beautiful species, 
Haliotis fulgens, Phil., the Green Abalone. The 
shells of this genus are truly spiral, but the whorls 
are extremely flattened, and the diminutive spire is 
almost concealed at one end of the body-whorl, while 
the oval aperture is nearly as long and broad as the 
shell itself. 

Near one edge of the shell is a series of holes, 
which serve as outlets for the water which has passed 
over the animal's gills, together with any waste par- 



PIERCED SHELLS AND CHITONS 243 

tides which may pass along in the current. As the 
shell increases in size some of the holes become 
closed from the inside, while new ones are formed 
at the edge of the growing shell. 

If we look within we shall find the most highly 
colored portion of the shell near the center, where 
the huge muscle which controls the foot has been 
detached. This great foot can cling to a rock with 
surprising force, and the animal must be taken una- 
wares if an easy conquest is expected. In no case 
should the fingers be inserted between the shell and 
the rock; for though no fatal results might occur, 
as are sometimes reported, it is true that much pain 
and inconvenience would probably be caused. 

The internal organs of the abalone are very inter- 
esting for dissection, particularly the mouth parts, 
or "buccal mass" as these organs are called. There 
is a ribbon-like tongue as long as your finger, and it 
is thickly set with flinty hooks, sometimes called 
teeth. Ify means of these teeth the animal rasps its 
vegetable food into fine shreds fit for swallowing. 
Then there are the gills and the mantle, the heart 
and the digestive organs; but a very large part of 
the animal consists of the great central muscle. 

This species is essentially a southerner. I have 
seen one living specimen at Monterey and have heard 
rumors of another one, but they are seldom found so 
far north. All of the abalones are rock-loving ani- 
mals, and they must be sought where the clefts of 
the ledges afford them an opportunity to hide from 
their enemies, at least while they arc young. Later 
in life they may be found planted upon rocks, their 



244 WEST COAST SHELLS 

backs covered with sea-mosses and other growths, 
so that they might easily be overlooked by one who 
was unacquainted with their habits of concealment. 
The shell of this species is quite thin, and it is 
diversified externally by low spiral ridges of a dark 
and dull color. Within, a whole rainbow is con- 
densed in one of these magnificent shells, though 
the shades of green are most conspicuous. The color- 
ing of the center is particularly fine, resembling a 
peacock's tail. There are about six open holes near 
one side of the shell, and its length is about the same 
number of inches. 

Var. walallensis, Stearns, occurs at Gualala, a 
small seaport in Sonoma Co., Cal. It is more elon- 
gate and flattened than the typical form, and it has 
a paler nacre. Its length is four inches, and its 
breadth is rather less than three. 

H ali o t is 
rufescens, 
Swains., the 
Red Ab alone, 
is shown in 
Figure 244. 
The beauty of 
these shells has 
caused them to 

be verv widelv 
Fig. 244 , . r . : 

distributed, 

and though their comparative abundance in Califor- 
nia makes us somewhat careless of them, still they 
are among the most beautiful objects ever gathered 
from this coast. The outer layer of the shell pro- 





THE RED 

Haliotis rufes 



ABALONE 
ens, page 244 



PIERCED SHELLS AND CHITONS 245 

jects over the pearly inner layer, and makes the fine 
red edge, so much prized in perfect specimens. The 
back is somewhat roughened, and is often overgrown 
with vegetation. The holes are large, usually three 
in number, and the muscle-scar is prominent. The 
shell sometimes grows to a length of nine inches, or 
more. 

All parts of this mollusk are valuable. The 
Chinese dry the meat and use it for food, and it must 
be confessed that the great muscle makes a most 
delicious soup. The shells are sold by the ton, and 
are largely exported to Europe, where they are made 
into buttons or used for various kinds of inlaid work. 
So persistently have these animals been gathered 
that they are much more rare than they were a score 
of years ago, and laws have been made to protect the 
species from extinction. 

The Black Aba- 
lone, H alio lis era- 
cherodii, Leach, 
is shown in Fig- 
ure 245. It is 
smaller and more 
abundant than 
the last species. 
The back is quite 

, , , Fig. 245 

smooth, marked 

only by lines ot growth. The spire is very short, 
the holes rive to nine in number, though I have seen 
a specimen that was without any. The color of the 
outside is greenish-black, while the inside is beauti- 
fully iridescent, without inclining to any definite 




246 WEST COAST SHELLS 

color. Live specimens, varying from one-fourth of 
an inch to six inches in length may be found at low 
tide, clinging to the rocks, particularly in the most 
inaccessible cracks, and under heavy boulders. 

When examined in a large jar of sea-water, as all 
of these animals should be if there is an opportunity, 
a living specimen presents many interesting points 
for study, particularly its broad foot, its fringed and 
sensitive mantle, its mouth and eyes and slender 
tentacles. Care must be taken to change the water 
very often, if the animal is to be kept alive any 
length of time, as it is very sensitive to confinement 
and rapidly uses up the dissolved oxygen in a jar of 
water. 

Halt otis corrugata, Gray, the Corrugated Aba- 
lone, resembles H. rufescens in size and color, but 
the shell is nearly circular, thick, high arched, and 
externally corrugated. It has only two or three open 
holes, but these are quite large, and the central 
muscle impression is wide and very brilliant. It is 
a southern species, and it is usually found beneath 
the low water mark. 

Haliotis assimilis, Dall, the Threaded Abalone, 
is now considered to be a distinct species, instead of 
a mere variety. It lives in deep water, from Mon- 
terey to San Diego. A specimen from the latter 
port measures four inches in length and three and a 
quarter in breadth. It has seven open holes, and the 
exterior of the shell is marked with many threads, 
like tapestry carpeting. There is a moderate fur- 
row below the line of holes. The spire is short but 
quite distinct, and the body of the shell is high 



PIERCED SHELLS AND CHITONS 247 

arched. Externally the shell is reddish, while the 
inside is smooth and silvery, without visible muscle- 
scar. The shell is tolerably thick, and appears very 
compact and solid. 

Quite in contrast with this species is the next, 
Haliotis gigantea, Chem., the Japanese Abalone, 
which seems to have followed the warm ocean cur- 
rent down past the Aleutian Islands, and to have 
reached the central part of the California coast; 
but it became smaller as it progressed, so that here 
it does not deserve its original name, though there 
seems to be no sufficient reason for separating it, 
even as a variety. My best specimens came from 
the west coast of Vancouver Island, the largest meas- 
uring five inches in length. In shape it appears long 
and narrow when compared with other species. The 
shell is thin, the edge sharp, the spire quite prom- 
inent, the surface uneven, while the four open holes 
are large and surrounded by high walls. The in- 
terior is very iridescent, a 
light color prevailing, and 
the muscle-scar is not dis- 
tinct. 

After the shells that 
have several holes, which 
we have just considered, 
there come a number hav- 
ing only one opening, 
which answers the same 
purpose, that of allowing 
a free outward passage 
from the interior of the Fig.246(*) 




248 WEST COAST SHELLS 

shell. And first we will consider Puncturella major, 
Dall, the Greater Puncturella, shown in Figure 246. 
It is not a common shell, but it shows the features 
of the genus in a fine manner. Its color is white, its 
internal margin is crenulated, and the posterior slope 
is slightly arched. This fine large shell was dredged 
in Bering Sea. 

Puncturella galeatea, Gould, the Helmet Punctur- 
ella, is an inhabitant of Puget Sound and the ad- 
jacent waters. It is much smaller than the last 
species, having a shell that is conical and elevated, 
being about as high as it is broad. The fissure at the 
summit is narrow, and internally there is a little pit 
on each side of the hole-channel. Its color is gray- 
ish white, and its length is ten millimeters. 

Puncturella cuculata, Gld., the Cap Puncturella, 
is found in Puget Sound and also at Monterey. Pre- 
sumably it exists at various locations between these 
two extremes. The shell is oval, obliquely conical, 
ribbed, the wedge-shaped puncture opening towards 
the shorter side. The color of the shell is white, 
though the outside is liable to be somewhat dingy. 
My specimen from Monterey measures about an inch 
in length and half an inch in height. 

Puncturella cooperi, Cpr., Cooper's Puncturella, 
resembles P. galatea, but the internal plate is solid 
and plane. The shell is small, being about nine 
millimeters in length. It has been found at Cata- 
lina Island. 

Subemarginula yatesii, Dall, the Monterey 
Trough-shell, is an extremely rare shell, two views 
pf which are shown in Figure 247. A few speci- 



PIERCED SHELLS AND CHITONS 



249 



mens have been obtained from the Bay of Mon- 
terey, but it is found in very few cabinets. The shell 




Fig. 247 (*) 



is large, strong, grayish-white in color, and it has 
many radiating ribs. Note the trough which extends 
from the apex to the margin, and which passes be- 
tween the heels of the horseshoe-shaped muscle-scar. 
The shell is 51 mm. in length and 13 mm. in height. 

Figure 248 represents the 
shell of one of our most common 
species, Fisssurella volcano, Rve., 
the Volcano-shell. Dead shells 
are abundant and attractive, and 
living specimens, with yellow 
foot and red-striped mantle, may often be found on 
the rocks at low tide. The shell is about an inch in 
length, and is oblong conical in form; the red stripes 
on its sides, running down from the small, oblong- 
hole at the top, suggests streams of red-hot lava 
issuing from the crater o\ a volcano. The coloring 




Fig. 248 




250 WEST COAST SHELLS 

appears plainest on dead shells; the live ones are 
darker, smoother and less brilliant. Var. crucifera, 
Dall, is a southern form, found at San Pedro and 
San Diego, which has four broad white rays starting 
from the apex, the posterior one becoming rapidly 
V-shaped. The ground color is brownish gray. 

Fissuridea as per a, 
Esch., the Rough Key- 
hole-limpet, is well 
shown in Figure 249. 
This shell is quite coni- 
cal, with a small, oval 
hole at the top, very 

Fig. 249 . 

different from the nar- 
row, oblong slit of the last species. The edge is 
wrinkled, the outside color is gray, with dark, pur- 
plish rays running down from the apex, while the 
interior is white. The common size is rather less 
than that of the cut, though some old specimens are 
very much larger. 

Fissuridea murina, Dall, the White Keyhole-lim- 
pet, is the next one of this interesting series that we 
are to consider. This species has a much smaller 
and more delicate shell than that of the last one, 
though in some respects they resemble each other. 
The shell is oblong in shape, with curved ends. The 
roundish oval hole is one-third of the shell's length 
from one extremity, and there are numerous fine 
ribs, checked by concentric ridges. The color is pure 
white, at least in dead specimens, and the length is 
about 15 mm., a little less than the diameter of a 
silver dime. 



PIERCED SHELLS AND CHITONS 



251 




A greatly re- 
duced view of 
Lucapina crenula- 
ta, Sby., the Great 
Keyhole-limpet, is 
shown in Figure 
250. This is by 
far the largest and 
finest of the Ameri- Fig - 250 ' x * 

can Fissurellidse. 

Though this shell is often over four inches in length, 
the animal is much longer, and somewhat resembles 
a brick, both in shape and size. It has a huge yellow 
foot, and a black mantle that nearly conceals the 
white shell which rests upon the animal's back. The 
edges of the shell are covered by a fold of the man- 
tle, and its true size is not shown until this fold 
is dissected away. 

This fine shell is marked with many radiating ribs 
and concentric lines of growth. It has a large, ob- 
long hole to one side of the center, around which, 
internally, is a thick rim of enamel. The crenulated, 
or scalloped, edge of the shell is a marked feature, 
and suggested its specific name. Internally the shell 
is of a pure glossy white, but the outside is some- 
what dingy, 
near the shore, as it 
it must ordinarily be 

Lucapinella calliomarginata, Cpr., the Southern 
Keyhole-limpet, is a small species, Living below tide- 
mark, and is occasionally found from San Pedro 
southward. The shell is low arched, with a rather 



This great mollusk is seldom found 
ives below the tide-mark, and 
gathered by dredging. 



252 WEST COAST SHELLS 

large, oblong hole, and roughened ribs. The mar- 
gin is crenulated, the interior white, and the exterior 
gray or marked with dark rays; the length is 19 
millimeters. 

^-^ Megatebennus bimaculatus, Dall, the 
183P Spotted Keyhole-limpet, Figure 251, was 
Fig. 251 formerly called Fissurellid&a bimaculata. 
These long names apply to a little shell 
which occasionally grows to a length of 16 mm., 
though many specimens are much smaller. The hole 
is very large for the size of the shell, and on either 
side of it are dark rays, making the two spots, from 
which circumstance it is named. Sometimes the 
whole shell is colored, with darker rays on the sides. 
The interior is white, though sometimes the spots 
show through. This species is reported from British 
Columbia as living on the rootlike holdfasts of the 
great seaweed, Macrocystis. It also occurs much 
farther southward, though it is a comparatively rare 
shell. The animal is much larger than the shell, 
part of which is concealed by the mantle. 

There are very odd creatures living under the 
stones which lie along the rim of the ocean. If you 
go down at low tide and turn the rocks over, one by 
one, you will be surprised at the number of singular 
beings which stare up at you in blank amazement, 
and then rush away into obscure places, as fast as 
their ten or fourteen legs will carry them. Others 
cannot run, but in sheer helplessness wait for your 
kind decision to do them no harm, and their very 
inertness appeals to your sympathies. While the 
saucy crabs waste no time in ceremonies, and the 



PIERCED SHELLS AND CHITONS 253 

sea-worms creep away as fast as possible, the poor 
mollusks can only cling to the rock for protection, 
or curl themselves up into the smallest space and 
the most secure condition which their instinct can 
dictate. 

When you visit the seaside you will want to ex- 
amine all these harmless little inhabitants of the 
ocean, and among them you will probably early dis- 
cover some specimens of our next group of mollusks, 
the Chitons, or sea-cradles, as they are "sometimes 
called. The anatomy of these animals is similar to 
that of the limpets, but they seem less highly de- 
veloped, and are probably descended from a very 
ancient race. They are peculiarly sluggish crea- 
tures, and they live in cracks and crannies of the 
rock or else under stones, away from all scenes of 
activity. 

But the peculiar feature that distinguishes them 
is the fact that the shell of the Chiton consists of 
eight parts, instead of a single shield. These parts, 
or valves, run across the body and overlap one an- 
other, like shingles on a roof. They are highest in 
the center, and they end in a leathern mantle which 
runs around the body, and which is highly con- 
tractile. This being the case, their shells cannot 
be preserved with the same ease as those of the lim- 
pets, for the mantle must be dried while the valves 
are in their natural position. 

Probably the best way to prepare fine specimens is 
to bind the living animal upon a piece of shingle or 
lath as it rests extended in a pan of sea-water. Ir 
can then be placed in warm fresh water, and after 



254 WEST COAST SHELLS 

the lack of salt has destroyed life and the muscles 
have lost their contractilit)^ the animal may be un- 
bound, the viscera removed with a sharp knife, and 
the parts to be preserved ma)^ be placed in a flat 
position to dry. Sometimes it is best to fit in a piece 
of wood, the size of the parts removed, to prevent 
shrinking while the mantle is drying. 

There are very many species of Chitons found on 
this coast, many of which are seldom collected, and 
it is quite beyond the scope of this work to attempt 
to describe them all. The best work to consult for 
full descriptions is the Manual of Conchology, pub- 
lished by the Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sci- 
ences, Vols. XIV and XV. A score or more of the 
most common species will now be mentioned, with 
descriptions of the ones that will most likely be col- 
lected. It should be remarked that some species are 
very small, less than half an inch in length, while 
others are two or three inches long, and the giant of 
the class is known to attain a length of nearly a foot. 
The figures were all drawn so as to represent good- 
sized specimens of the species which they illustrate. 

Lepidopleurus nexus, Cpr., the Joined Chiton, has 
a small, ashen-white shell, with valves gothic arched. 
Its length is 7.5 mm., and it was dredged near Cata- 
lina Island. 

Lepidopleurus inter?iexus, Cpr., the Inter-joined 
Chiton, has a shell similar to the last, but it is smal- 
ler, and the valves are orange-colored. Its length is 
4.5 mm., and it comes from Santa Barbara. 

^0 nic ell a lineata, Wood, the Red-lined Chiton, 
is shown in Figure 252. This species is a beautiful 




PIERCED SHELLS AND CHITONS 255 

representative of this great group of 
mollusks. The valves are smooth, 
moderately arched in the center, and 
are chiefly of a light reddish color. 
This background of color is crossed 
by wavy or zigzag lines of dark 
brown, bordered above with white, 
making the fresh specimen an object Fi^252 

of great beauty. The mantle border 
is smooth, thin and delicate, and it is of a yellowish- 
brown color. The length is about one inch. 

^onicella marmorata, Fabr., the Marbled Chiton, 
has an oblong shell with valves elevated and rather 
acutely angled. Its color is buff, closely sprinkled 
with dark red; surface apparently smooth, but 
microscopically granulated; length, 27 to 40 mm. 
This species lives in the Atlantic and also in the 
north Pacific. 

tfonicella submarmorea, Midd., the Red-spotted 
Chiton. Valves rather depressed, apparently smooth 
but microscopically full of granules; color, rosy or 
yellowish-white, painted with spots and flamules of 
red; length, 38 mm. From Fuca Strait past the 
Aleutian Islands to Japan. 

^rachy derm on hartwegii, Cpr., Hartweg's Chi- 
ton, has a low, oval shell, very closely and micro- 
scopically granulated, and sometimes bears wart-like 
granules irregularly scattered over the surface. Ex- 
ternally it is of a dull olive-green, while internal!) 
the color is an intense blue-green; the length is about 
an inch. It is found along the whole coast, from 
Vancouver Island southward. 



256 



WEST COAST SHELLS 



Clicztopleura gemmea, Cpr., the Gem Chiton, is 
found at Monterey. The shell is oblong, elevated, 
red, olive-ashen, or yellow. The girdle is narrow, 
leathery, sparsely clothed with short hairs that are 
easily rubbed off, and the valves are not smooth. It 
is a little creature, having a length of 16 millimeters. 
Ischnochiton magdalenensis, 
Hds., the Gray Chiton, is shown 
in Figure 253. This large and 
very common species may be 
found under rocks at low tide, 
and it can at once be recognized 
by its worn or roughly sculp- 
tured, low-arched valves, which 
are whitish internally, and gray 
or somewhat tinted externally. 
The mantle border is darker and 
' is covered with minute, solid 
scales. The foot of the animal 
is yellow. When taken from the 
rock it has a habit of curling up 
The figure represents a good-sized 




Fig. 253 



into a ball, 
specimen. 

Ischnochiton conspicuus, Cpr., the Conspicuous 
Chiton, resembles the last species, but is larger, more 
richly colored, with pinkish valves; while the man- 
tle is densely beset with short bristles, giving it a 
velvety appearance. The length of this southern 
species is sometimes over 90 millimeters. 

Ischnochiton mertensii, Midd., the Red Chiton, 
has an oval, elevated shell, with angular dorsal 
ridges and straight side slopes. The color is red, 




PIERCED SHELLS AND CHITONS 257 

varying in hue from orange to dark red-brown, and 
it is sometimes blotched with white. The valves 
are richly sculptured and are very beautiful when 
examined with a lens. The mantle border is covered 
with fine rounded scales; the length of the creature 
is from an inch to an inch and a half. It is essen- 
tially a northern species, reaching from Sitka to the 
middle of California. 

Ischnochiton regularise C p r., the 
Regular Chiton, is shown in Figure 254. 
This is truly a regular structure, for the 
constant breadth is half the length, and 
the ends are semicircles. The valves 
are sharply arched and are marked with 
very fine sculpturing. By the aid of a 
lens the border is seen to resemble very Fig. 254 
fine beadwork. The outside is olive or 
slaty blue, and the interior is light blue; the length 
is 35 millimeters. 

Callis to chiton palmulatus, Cpr., the Palm Chiton, 
has small, high arched valves, marked with raised 
sculpturing. The anterior valve has eleven ribs, 
while the posterior one has seven very strong ones, 
bifurcated behind. Its color is dark brown, and its 
length is 1 1 mm. It is found at Monterey and Santa 
Barbara. The variety mirabilis, Pils, has the last 
valve enormously thickened. The interior is bluish 
white. The variety comes from San Diego. 

Callis to chit on, crassicostati/s, Pilsbry, the Thick- 
ribbed Chiton, has an elevated, oblong shell, the lus- 
terless surface of which is green or brown. The trout 
valve has seven very strong ribs; the posterior valve 



258 



WEST COAST SHELLS 




Fig. 255 



is also elevated, the hinged area not higher than the 
area in front of it. The interior of this shell, which 
is found at Monterey, is bluish white in color, and 
the length is a trifle less than an inch. 

Nuttallina calif ornica, Nutt., the 
California Chiton, Figure 255, is a very 
common species, living high up on the 
rocks which are left bare by the tides, 
and hiding in crevices which are ordi- 
narily covered by a growth of seaweed. 
The coarse, rough valves are often much 
eroded, but where the surface is pre- 
sented it is of a dark color, and is sculp- 
tured with fine granules. The girdle is covered with 
short, stiff spinelets of a dark color. The foot of 
the animal is reddish, and the interior of the valves 
is bluish-green. The length of a well grown speci- 
men is an inch and a half. 

The true Nuttalina scabra, Rve., the Scaly Chiton, 
is a southern species, much resembling the last, but 
having the individual valves 
very much shorter in propor- 
tion to their width. The color 
of the valves is lighter and 
more variegated. 

Mopalia muscosa, Gld., the 
Mossy Chiton, is shown in 
Figure 256. This very vari- 
able species extends from the 
far north to San Diego. It 
may generally be readily rec- 
ognized by its hairy mantle- 




PIERCED SHELLS AND CHITONS 



259 



border, which resembles a fringe of stiff moss. The 
outside of the valves is sculptured, but this fact is 
often obscured by growths of seaweed or other organ- 
isms. The interior of the valves is of a bluish-green 
color, while the outside is dark or grayish. Some 
years this species is quite common, and good speci- 
mens may be found in rocky places between tide- 
marks at the time of lowest water. 

Mopalia hindsii, Sby., Hinds's Chiton, is the next 
species to be considered. Its shell is much depressed, 
and the surface is nearly smooth. The girdle has 
only a few short hairs. The color is olive, while the 
interior is white, with short crimson rays under the 
beaks. Its length is two inches. It is found in San 
Francisco Bay and along the coast of central Cali- 
fornia. By some of the best authorities this is con- 
sidered as only a variety 
of the last species. 

Mopalia lignosa, Gld., 
the Woody Chiton, is well 
shown in Figure 257. This 
fine species has its dis- 
tinguishing lines clearly 
brought out in the figure, 
which represents a large 
specimen. The valves are 
light green in color within, 
while on the outside they 
vary from almost white to 
dark green. They are also 
marked w i th n a r r w 
brown lines, which slant 




260 WEST COAST SHELLS 

from the apex of each valve. The girdle is generally 
quite rough, but sometimes we find it nearly smooth. 
This species ranges from Vancouver Island to Mon- 
terey. It should be remarked that specimens have 
been found connecting this species with the last two, 
so that by Pilsbry it is considered to be only a sub- 
species. The difficulty of drawing hard and fast 
lines will be appreciated by any one who makes a 
study of this group. 

Mopalia ciliata, Sby., the Hairy Chiton, has also 
been sadly confused with other species. It is brighter 
colored than M. muscosa. The girdle is wide, yellow 
or brown, somewhat clothed with curling, strap-like 
brown hairs, which bear near their bases a bunch of 
minute, white, acute spines. It extends along the 
coast from the far north to Monterey. The variety 
zvosnessenskii, Midd., has a shell elongated, the back 
roundly arched, olive to drab in color, and with faint 
sculpture. It has been found at Sitka and Olympia. 
From those which it is difficult to 
classify we pleasantly turn to a very 
distinct species, Placiphorella vela- 
ta, Cpr., the Veiled Chiton, shown 
in Figure 258. This singular spe- 
cies is more nearly circular than any 
of its relatives on this coast. At the 
anterior end the mantle projects con- 
siderably, forming a distinct veil, 
which is set with scattering hairs. The valves are low 
arched, of a dull reddish color without, but whitish 
within. Its length is 30 to 50 mm., and it is found 
from Humboldt Bay southward. 





PIERCED SHELLS AND CHITONS 261 

Katherina tunic ata, Sby., the Black 
Chiton, Figure 259, was named in honor 
of Lady Katherine Douglass, who first 
sent a specimen to the British Museum. 
The shell is oblong and elevated, the 
valves being mainly covered by the black, 
leathery girdle. This singular arrange- 
ment of the parts is so striking that a 
specimen cannot be mistaken for any 
other species. Think of a smooth, black skin, rounded 
like a whale's back, and set along the center with 
eight little shelly plates, and you will get the idea. 
The plates, where they are not exposed, are white; 
elsewhere they are dark brown or discolored. 

The figure shows the appearance of a small speci- 
men, for they sometimes grow to a length of three 
inches. This species thrives especially in the far 
north, but it ranges southward as far as Catalina 
Island. The soft parts are salmon colored, at least 
in the northern specimens. It is eaten raw by the 
natives of the northwest coast. 

Amicula pallasii, Midd., the Concealed Chiton, 
has a shell nearly concealed by the hairy mantle, 
which is almost circular, and which covers the back 
of the animal except for eight small holes. This 
mantle, or girdle, bears unequal bunches of reddish 
hairs. Its length is 67 mm., and it lives in far 
northern waters. 

We close our description of these creatures with a 
few words concerning the largest one of all, named 
Crypto chiton stelleri, Midd., the Giant Chiton, 
which has already been referred to on a previous 



262 



WEST COAST SHELLS 




Fig. 260 



page. Figure 260 repre- 
sents only one of the 
eight white valves, all of 
which are wholly con- 
cealed under the hard, 
gritty, reddish-brown 
mantle. These single 
valves are found much 
more often than the com- 
plete animal, and from 
their peculiar shape they are often called Butterfly- 
shells. The single valves of other species are often 
found too, but none of them begin to be as large as 
these. The whole creature is a huge and heavy 
affair, six, eight or even ten inches in length. When 
properly cleaned and dried the mantle and valves 
much resemble a toy boat. The Chinese are pecu- 
liarly expert in curing and preparing specimens, 
which find a ready sale in the curio stores. They 
have even been made into shades for electric lamps, 
and are of a rich brown color, quite different from 
other materials. 

This huge Chiton lives all along the western coast, 
ranging from Japan to the Santa Barbara Islands. 
Complete specimens are seldom collected from the 
shore, for the creature lives just below the lowest 
tide-mark. 



CHAPTER XII 

AIR-BREATHING SNAILS AND SLUGS 

We must now leave the sea and all the plenitude 
of life that finds its home along the shores of the 
ocean, and search for the molluscan forms that live 
upon the dry land. By their very nature, however, 
we need not expect to find them where there is no 
chance to obtain considerable moisture, for in dry 
climates they are liable to perish, even if once intro- 
duced. So we will search for them in the shade of 
forests, around springs and brooks, in damp, dark 
places where the sun seldom shines, and especially 
along the borders of the ocean, where there is a great 
abundance of foggy weather; for though we some- 
times wish that the fog would blow away, we must 
remember that the same dripping, heavy fog means 
life to the snails, as well as to many plants. 

Most snails have an aversion to sunlight, espe- 
cially if it is bright, and so they come out of their 
lurking places and secure their food in the night, and 
when morning has come and you go out to look for 
them they have disappeared. Perhaps your young 
peas and pansies have disappeared also, and nothing 
is left but a shining film of dry mucus, which glis- 
tens in the morning sunshine and clearly tells you 
what has been going on during the hours when you 
were asleep in your bed. 

All of the snails need air, though not in very large 
quantities, for they are proverbially slow in their mo- 



264 WEST COAST SHELLS 

tions and were never known to really get out of 
breath. But in spite of their deliberation they accom- 
plish quite extensive results, if you give them time 
enough. It is a favorite joke of the citizens of some 
brisk town to declare that the inhabitants of a rival 
city do not eat snails because they cannot catch the 
pesky creatures, presumably because the snails are 
more fleet of foot than the aforesaid neighbors. They 
are eaten, however, in some parts of the world, and 
are esteemed a great delicacy. Most of the snails 
breathe by means of a simple lung, or air-sack, which 
opens on the right side of the body, as is plainly 
shown in the picture of the yellow slug, Figure 264. 
Figure 261 represents the Northern 
Selen, Selenites vancouverensis, Lea. 
It represents, however, a sinistral 
form of the shell; but when viewed 
in a looking-glass it appears in the more natural 
form. This remark will apply to other figures in so 
far as one might wish to see how a reverse shell 
would look. Nearly all of our univalve shells are 
dextral, or right-handed; a few, like the Physas, are 
always left-handed, or sinistral. A good many 
tropical shells show more diversity in their method 
of coiling, and some specimens of the same species 
will turn to the right, while others will "per- 
versely" roll the other way. In Figure 102 we have 
a good example of a sinistral shell. 

Some specimens of this Selen grow to a consider- 
ably larger size than the figure. The epidermis is 
yellowish green, while the interior of the shell is 
white. There are five whorls, the last one being flat- 



AIR-BREATHING SNAILS AND SLUGS 265 

tened above, at the aperture, as is shown in the figure. 
A dark colored variety is found in Alaska. As the 
name indicates, this species makes its home about 
Puget Sound, but it also extends down to California, 
and eastward to Idaho and Montana. The var. 
keepi, Hemphill, is a perfect miniature of the type, 
and is reckoned as an extremely small variety of 
the same. It is sparingly found in the Contra Costa 
hills, back of the city of Oakland. 

Selenites sportella, Gld., the Sportive Selen, is 
decidedly smaller than the normal form of the last 
species. Its color and shape are similar, but it is 
marked by sharp growth-striae. The difference is 
most plainly seen on the base of the shell, which in 
the last species is smooth, while in this it is decidedly 
striated. This species lives near the coast, all along 
our western border. 

Figure 262 shows us a basal view of Se- 
lenites voyana, Newc, Voy's Selen, (Ma- 
crocyclis voyana). Notice the wide um- 
bilicus and the triangular aperture. The 
shell is thin, translucent, very light horn- 
colored, and has fine lines of growth. This species 
lives along the California coast. 

Selenites hemphilli, W. G. Binney, Hemphill's 
Selen, is a small species, half an inch across, thin, 
glossy, marked by irregularly impressed lines of 
growth, without any trace of revolving lines. This 
shell is also known as Circinaria hemphilli. Its home 
is in Oregon. 

Selenites durante Newc, Durant's Selen, is a lit- 
tle affair, only 4 mm. across, widely umbilicated. 




266 WEST COAST SHELLS 

flattened, light yellowish-brown, striated. Var. 
caelata, Mazyck, is about the same size, but has very 
coarse, rough, irregular ribs, best seen from the under 
side. It is found on the California coast and islands. 

It may be well to remark that all of the Selens are 
said to have very vigorous appetites ; they should not 
be placed with other snails, for if they are thus con- 
fined the other snails are apt to mysteriously disap- 
pear — all but their shells. 

The members of the genus Limax are true slugs; 
i. e., they are naked, crawling mollusks, looking like 
snails without shells. It is indeed true that they have 
rudimentary shells concealed in their mantles, but 
these are not easily observed. Several of our species 
have come over from Europe, and are settling down 
in America more to their satisfaction than to ours. 
Among the various species we mention first, Limax 
maximus, Linn., the Great Limax. This creature 
grows to a length of four inches. In color it is light 
brown or ashen, with rows of round spots alternating 
with black stripes. It has been reported from San 
Francisco, Los Angeles, and other coast cities. 

Limax agrestis, Linn., the Field Limax, is another 
unwelcome immigrant, now thoroughly naturalized. 
Its color varies from whitish to black, through va- 
rious shades of yellow and amber. It is usually about 
an inch long, but when fully grown it is nearly twice 
that length. 

The upper side of the animal is marked with 
longitudinal, shallow furrows, darker than the gen- 
eral surface, while between these are little tuber- 
cles, giving it the appearance of mosaic work. When 



AIR-BREATHING SNAILS AND SLUGS 267 

touched it secretes a glutinous mucus. It is liable to 
become a great pest in gardens, doing most of its rav- 
ages in the night season. 

Limax campestris, Binney, the Lawn Limax, is 
closely related to the last species, but it is smaller, 
more semi-transparent, and does not so readily se- 
crete mucus. It is about an inch long, the body is 
cylindrical, the mantle oval and fleshy, the back 
tubercled and furrowed, the foot narrow and whitish. 
It has no spots or markings, and it varies in color 
from amber to black. I have sometimes seen great 
numbers of these little black slugs upon the lawn at 
Mills College, especially in the spring time. 

Limax kezvstoni, J. G. Cooper, Hewston's Limax, 
is found in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and other 
places. It is a dark colored slug, two inches long, the 
back being strongly ridged and higher than the front 
of the body. The height of the body is twice the 
width of the foot, the base of which is whitish in 
color. 

Vitrina pfcifferi, Newc, Pfeiffer's Glass-snail, is a 
little mollusk resembling a slug, but with a small, 
shining, greenish-white shell of three whorls, 9 mm. 
in diameter. The aperture is large, the lip thin, and 
the shell too small to admit the whole animal. It is 
generally found at high altitudes, in California and 
eastward. 

Several species of the genus Zonites and its allies 
now follow in our train of study. They arc all 
small, having spiral shells, usually with rounded 
whorls and an open umbilicus. 

Vitrea cellaria^ Mull., (Zonites cellarius)^ theCel- 



268 WEST COAST SHELLS 

lar Zonite, is a European species, but it has become 
widely distributed, even on the Pacific Coast. The 
shell is very much depressed, thin, fragile, and pellu- 
cid; the epidermis is greenish-yellow and polished, 
and the base is rounded. The little snail that builds 
and inhabits this shell is of a light blue color, very 
pretty and quite active. It is a snail that follows 
civilization, and delights to live in cellars and damp 
places about buildings. Most of the snails of the 
world resent the intrusion of man into their haunts, 
but this one affiliates with him and is pleased to 
remain about his habitations. So far as I know it 
never does any harm, and it seems to get its living 
from the mould that is found in cellars and in wet 
places. The diameter of the shell is from six to 
twelve millimeters. The larger variety is classed by 
some as Vitrea drapamaldi, Beck. 

Zonites arboreus, Say, the Bush Zonite, has a spire 
of four or five whorls, so much flattened that the 
shell appears nearly like a circular disk. The shell is 
smooth, amber-colored, very thin, and almost trans- 
parent. Its diameter is three or four millimeters. 
This species, which hides under leaves and among 
bushes, inhabits many parts of North America. 

Zonitoides pu- 
getensis^ Dall, the 
Seattle Zonite, is 
represented in Fig- 
ure 263 very great- 
ly enlarged, for the 
real diameter is 
Fig. 263, x ¥ (*) only 1 .5 mm. This 




AIR-BREATHING SNAILS AND SLUGS 269 

little shell was collected under leaves near Seattle 
by Mr. P. B. Randolph. It is of a dark, reddish- 
brown color, and it has a silky luster. 

Pristoloma lansingi, Bland, Lansing's Zonite, is 
found in damp places under leaves, in Oregon and 
Washington. The little shell is scarcely 3 mm. in 
diameter, but it has five or six whorls, a rather ele- 
vated spire, but no umbilicus. The lower end of the 
narrow aperture is almost immediately beneath the 
apex. In appearance it is shining and dark horn- 
colored. 

Pristoloma stearnsi, Bland, Stearns's Zonite, has a 
similar range, but also reaches into Alaska. It re- 
sembles the last species, but is more elevated, more 
striate, and it has seven whorls. Its diameter is 4 mm. 

During the months when rain falls upon the Pa- 
cific Coast a stranger is apt to be startled by meeting 
specimens of a yellowish slug of a remarkable size; 
but old residents are used to them and are not at all 
disturbed, though very few express any appreciation 
for the slippery things. In damp and shady places 
they are active all of the year, though in the time of 
summer drought they are seldom seen in the fields. 
A picture of a half-grown specimen is given in 




Fig. 264 



Figure 264. They frequently reach a length oi six 
inches or more, and look as if the}' were exceeding!) 
well fed. While speaking of food we mm remark 



270 WEST COAST SHELLS 

that they are especially fond of orange peel, and they 
will be pretty sure to find it if a piece is left near 
their haunts, a fact indicating that they have a keen 
sense of smell. It is a common sight to observe three 
or four healthy specimens gathering around one piece 
of orange peel. They are also fond of milk, and 
will be found in the morning gathered around pussy's 
saucer which was left out in the yard over night. 

The name of this species is Ariolimax columbia- 
nus, Gld., the Great Yellow Slug. Occasionally a 
specimen is found that is partly covered with large 
dark spots, but at best it is only a spotted form of 
the main species. I have seen this spotted variety 
near the Russian River, in Sonoma County. A variety 
stramineus, Hemphill, of a light straw color is de- 
scribed as existing on Santa Cruz Island. 

Two other species, Ariolimax calif ornicus, J. G. 
Cooper, and Aphallarion buttoni, Pils., & Van., can- 
not readily be distinguished from A. columbianus by 
external characteristics, though they differ internally, 
particularly in the genetalia. 

Ariolimax niger, Cooper, the Black Slug, has a 
body long and narrow, blunt in front and tapering 
but little behind. When crawling the animal is some 
two inches in length, but when at rest, as it may be 
found under old boards and similar places, it is so 
contracted that it is hardly one inch long. Its color 
is quite dark, sometimes being nearly black, espe- 
cially on the upper surface of the body; but I have 
found specimens which are very much lighter, almost 
an ashy gray. This species is common in central 
California. 



AIR-BREATHING SNAILS AND SLUGS 271 

Ariolimax hemphilli, W. G. Binney, Hemphill's 
Slug, is a small, slender, flesh-colored slug, with a 
pointed tail, which was first collected at Niles, Cal., 
though it probably lives in the neighboring parts of 
the Santa Clara valley. 

Hemphillia glandulosa, Bl. & Bin., the Hemphil- 
lia, is a curious little mollusk that lives in Oregon 
and Washington. When extended it is an inch or 
two long; but on its back is a hump, and on the hump 
is a shell, brownish, flattened, and scale-like, one- 
fifth of the length of the animal. The color is smoky 
white, with dark brown blotches running from the 
mantle to the foot. 

Binneya notabilis, Cooper, the Binneya, is a curi- 
ous Mexican form found on Santa Barbara Island. 
The shell is ear-shaped, light, thin, and horn-colored. 
It is not large enough to cover the snail-shaped ani- 
mal. The shell is from 7 to 14 mm. in length. 

Pyramidula asteriscus, Morse, the Star Snail, is a 
very small creature, the shell being about one six- 
teenth of an inch in diameter. When examined with 
a microscope it shows a low spire and a large um- 
bilicus, while its four whorls are marked with many 
sharp cross-ridges. Its color is brown. It is widely 
distributed, living in wet grass, from New England 
to California. 

~Pyramiduld lincdtus, Say, the Lined Snail, has a 
discoidal shell an eighth of an inch across, in which 
the four whorls are coiled up almost in the same 
plane, with raised lines revolving upon them. It is 
found all over the I hi i ted States. 




272 WEST COAST SHELLS 

Oreohelix slrigosa, Gld., the 
Mountain Snail, is the most numer- 
ous of all the snails found between 
the Rocky Mountains and the Sier- 
ra Nevada Range. It assumes very 
many forms, some of which have been described as 
separate species. One of these forms is shown in 
Figure 265, which by some would be classed as 0. 
Haydeni, Gabb. Concerning this point I quote from 
Mr. Binney, who says, "I have received from Mr. 
Henry Hemphill specimens of Helix Haydeni with 
the animal, and so variable that I am convinced of 
its being a variety of strigosa" Mr. Pilsbry inclines 
to a separation of the species, though admitting their 
close relationship. As the forms are so difficult of 
separation I see no advantage in such a book as this 
of trying to distinguish between them. The specimen 
for the figure was selected from a large number of 
typical shells, because it seemed to be intermediate 
between the greatly varying forms. 

The Mountain Snail abounds especially in Idaho 
and Utah, and some varieties are found far up on 
mountain sides, even as high as 8500 feet. The shell 
has a broad umbilicus, a nearly circular aperture, and 
a sharp lip. The whorls are about five in number, 
and in most specimens the spire is low. The average 
diameter is about three-fourths of an inch, though 
some varieties are much smaller. 

Perhaps no other shell in the country has so many 
varieties as this mountain snail. Some of them are 
almost smooth, some ribbed spirally, others trans- 
versely. Some are nearly white, others are marked 




AIR-BREATHING SNAILS AND SLUGS 273 

with brown stripes. Very many of the varieties have 
received names, such as cooperi, hemphilli, gouldi, 
castanea, and multico statu, but it would be out of 
place in this small volume to attempt to describe 
them all. If any of my readers have an opportunity 
to collect and study these snails, they will have a 
very interesting opportunity to compare the different 
forms. 

One of the most marked varieties, 
which we shall even consider as a distinct 
species, is Oreo helix idahoensis, Newc, 
the Idaho Snail, a view of which is given Fig. 266 
in Figure 266. The shell is small, 
strong and white. The whorls are crossed by many 
blunt ribs. Its diameter is about half an inch. 

Oreohelix elrodi, Pilsbry, Elrod's Snail, is another 
of this series, and is found in the Mission Mountains 
of Montana. The last whorl of this shell has an acute, 
peripheral keel, for which reason it is believed by 
some to be identical with the California species, 
Epiphragmophora circumcarinata, Figure 269. The 
shell is nearly an inch across. 

Patula solitaries Say, the Solitary Snail, is essen- 
tially an eastern species, being particularly abundant 
near the Ohio River. Nevertheless it is found in 
Idaho, Oregon and Washington. The shell is low, 
and has five whorls, a large, circular umbilicus, and 
a sharp outer lip. It is of a yellowish brown color, 
and the whorls are banded with two dark brown 
stripes with a lighter one between them. Its diame- 
ter is three-fourths of an inch or more. 

Functum conspectum^ Bland, is the Dial Dot- 



274 WEST COAST SHELLS 

shell. One morning a few years ago I was surprised 
to find the marble sun-dial on the lawn all dotted 
with little groups of these microscopic snails. I gath- 
ered a number, and soon afterwards they disappeared 
as suddenly as they had come. I have never seen 
them since, though I presume they still live among 
the grass roots. Under the microscope the shell is 
very pretty, having a moderately elevated spire of 
four whorls, which are marked with fine cross ribs. 
The umbilicus is large, and the shell when inverted 
looks like a shallow bowl. The shell is dark horn- 
colored, and is about a large as the head of an ordi- 
nary pin. The variety pasadenae, Pilsbry, is widely 
umbilicated, and is without the spaced riblets, or has 
them very slightly indicated. Its diameter is two 
millimeters. It was found in a garden at Pasadena, 
and presumably it had gone there to admire the flow- 
ers, even as my specimens had climbed the college 
dial to rind out the time of day. 

Punctum randolphii, Dall, Randolph's Dot-shell, 
has a minute, reddish brown shell, with a dull silky 
lustre. Its four whorls are quite elevated, and the 
umbilicus is small. It is very minute, having a 
diameter of less than 2 mm. It is found under leaves, 
near the cit3' of Seattle. 

Helix aspersa, Mull., the Spotted Snail, is a Euro- 
pean species which was introduced into this country 
many years ago. It seems to thrive about settle- 
ments, quite unlike most of our native species, and in 
some places it has already become a source of much 
annoyance, eating garden flowers and vegetables al- 
together too freely. It is very easy to raise broods of 



AIR-BREATHING SNAILS AND SLUGS 2?5 

the young of this species in a snailery, which may be 
constructed somewhat like a small hotbed. The old 
ones lay eggs freely, the eggs looking like little 
pearls, and the young snails feed readily upon lettuce 
and cabbage leaves, reaching full size in about two 
years. I once reared a large number in this way, but 
at length I was obliged to dispose of them for fear 
that they would escape and do injury. I am now 
trying the experiment with our native Cypress Snail, 
Figure 270, and my only fear is that they will not do 
well in captivity. Any of these experiments are in- 
teresting, however, and I would advise the boys and 
girls to try to raise such snails as naturally live in 
their neighborhoods, and other harmless species. 

The shell of the Spotted Snail is large, about an 
inch in diameter, nearly globular, thin, and marked 
with wrinkles. The color is brownish gray, with 
bands of chestnut and threads of yellow, giving the 
shell a spotted appearance, from which fact it takes 
its name. This species, as well as some others, is 
used for food by the French, and it is not unlikely 
that the first ones were brought to this country for 
the purpose of propagating them for domestic uses. 
It is .said that the first colony was established in the 
city of San Jose. 

We begin our study of a most interesting division 
of the old genus He/hx, which included all of the 
common land snails, by examining the picture of a 
fine specimen of Epighiragmophora fidelis^ Gray, the 
Faithful Snail, as shown in Figure 267. The long- 
name given to this division of snails simply means 
"epiphragm-bearer," and the epiphragm which he 



276 WEST COAST SHELLS 

bears is the door which the snail constructs across 
the entrance to his shell when he goes into retirement, 
as many of these creatures do during some part of the 
year. In the dry regions it is during the summer, 
and in the colder parts of the coast it is during the 
time of frost and snow. This epiphragm is not a 
permanent affair like an operculum, but it is con- 
structed of dried mucus and resembles white blot- 
ting paper. Sometimes there are several layers, one 
behind the other. When more favorable conditions 
for the active life of the snail arrive he loosens these 
layers of paper and pushes them out of the way. The 
next season he constructs new ones. 

The fine species of which 
Figure 267 gives a good 
idea, lives mostly in the 
north, and is especially 
abundant in Oregon and 
Washington. The shells vary 
Fig. 267 in size and color, but the 

larger ones are an inch and 
a half in diameter. The color is generally dark be- 
neath, but it is lighter and more or less banded above. 
Albino specimens have been found. The animal has 
a tinge of red in its complexion, and altogether I 
know of no more beautiful combination of form and 
color than is seen some misty morning in summer, 
when this fine snail is found extended on a cushion 
of fresh green moss, beneath the protecting foliage 
of an old forest tree. Such a combination I once saw 
in one of the parks of the city of Seattle. It is need- 
less to say that I did not disturb the beautiful crea- 




AIR-BREATHING SNAILS AND SLUGS 277 

ture, and I hope that he or his descendants are living 
there to this day. 

Epiphragmophora infumata, Gld., the Smoky 
Snail, is commonly reckoned as a variety of the last 
species, but it is so different that I prefer to consider 
it as distinct. It lives along the northern coast region 
of California, and is said to be found in the canyons 
upon the buckeye trees. In size it is similar to E. 
fidelis, but the shell is much depressed and flattened, 
and the body-whorl has a sharp, angular edge, or 
keel. The shell has a peculiar cloth-like surface, and 
is of a nearly black color throughout. The umbilicus 
is distinct, and the aperture very oblique. 

Epiphragmophora mormo- 
num, Pfr., the Mormon Island 
Snail is shown in Figure 268. 
The shell is large and de- 
pressed, the surface glossy, Fig. 268 
and the brown edge is girdled 

with white. There is a large umbilicus, and the lip is 
recurved. This species lives in the Sierra Nevada 
Mountains, and was first named from specimens 
taken on Mormon Island in the American River. It 
does not live in Utah, as one would at first suppose. 

There are several varieties. Var. cala, Pils., is 
smaller and less depressed. It is dark reddish-brown 
in color. The types are from the Calaveras Big 
Trees. Var. button'^ Pils., resembles the last in color, 
but the shell is more depressed, and the surface is 
set with little prominences that bear golden brown 
hairs. Var. hillebrandi^ Newc, is sometimes reck- 




278 



WEST COAST SHELLS 





oned as a distinct species. The shell is yellowish 
horn-colored, with a chestnut band bordered with 
white. In fresh specimens the shell is hirsute. This 
variety also comes from the mountain region. 

Epiphragniophora circumcari- 
nata, Stearns, the Keeled Snail, 
is shown in various aspects in 
Figure 269. This species was 
described by Dr. Stearns as a 
variety of E. mormonum, but it 
seems too distinct to remain as 
such. The shell is widely urn- 
bilicated, flattened, angulated, 
and it bears a peripheral keel. 
Besides this there are many 
cross-ribs, parallel with the lines 
of growth. It is a rare species 
from Tuolumne Co., Cal., possi- 
bly identical with Oreohelix el- 
rodi, from Montana. 

Cypress Point is a projection 
of land, a few miles south of 
Monterey, which looks out boldly 
upon the broad Pacific Ocean. 
The huge waves come rolling in 
and beat themselves into spray 
against its rugged cliffs, and the sweet breath of the 
ocean pours over the flattened treetops and then 
rushes on across the hills, carrying health and vigor 
to the parched interior of the State. There is no 
more delightful spot on this beautiful earth than this 
same "Point of the Cypress Trees," and whoever 




Fig. 269 



AIR-BREATHING SNAILS AND SLUGS 279 

visits it carries away a picture of mingled wildness, 
sublimity, and beauty. 

It is well named; for here, within the compass of 
a few score acres, is the diminishing home of the 
cypress trees of California. From this little spot 
came .the seeds which have developed into hundreds 
of miles of verdant hedges, and tens of thousands of 
beautiful trees. 

The parent trees are venerable specimens, blown 
by the strong sea-breezes into the most fantastic 
forms. Here is one on the very edge of the bluff; 
its trunk is horizontal, and its thick leaved top slants 
up from the ground like the moss-covered roof of an 
ancient farmhouse. Here stands another, grim and 
solitary, with a gnarled and twisted trunk, uphold- 
ing a close reefed sail of bright green foliage. And 
there is a little group of them, kneeling together to- 
wards the east, like pious pilgrims; yet showing by 
their defiant limbs, which are bent and knotted like 
the arms of wrestling giants, that though the proud 
west wind has brought them to their knees, still their 
spirit is not broken, and that they continually throw 
back his challenge, and that they will never yield 
their ground till the last green leaf has withered on 
their scant and flattened tops. 

In the midst of all this mingling of the beautiful 
and the picturesque is the home of a very humble 
but very interesting mollusk, named Epiphragmo- 
pliord dupetithouarsi) Desh., the Cypress Snail, 
shown in Figure 270. During the summer months 
I have sought them under the old cypresses, and 
have found them quietly sleeping under old logs. 



280 WEST COAST SHELLS 

behind pieces of loose bark, among the twigs forming 
a wood-rat's nest, and in other out of the way places. 
Many empty shells I also found, to my great regret, 
for each had a hole in the side or near the apex, 
showing that the owner's life had been violently 
taken away. For this act of vandalism the blue jays 
were evidently responsible to a large extent, and even 
while I was collecting my few specimens, these 
saucy birds stormed and scolded in the trees, as if I 
was the real robber and not they themselves. I verily 
fear that these reckless marauders, combined with 
their confederates, the ground squirrels, will speedily 
rob Cypress Point of one of its chiefest attrac- 
tions. 

However, I took 
away a number of 
specimens of the dor- 
Fig. 270 mant snail, as well as 
a good many of the 
best shells which the jays had dared to desecrate, 
and after their long summer's sleep I placed some 
of the former in a fernery and sprinkled them with 
water. After a few hours they slowly pushed them- 
selves out into the open world and became quite 
lively for snails, and seemed to enjoy their state of 
captivity to a reasonable degree. One of these cap- 
tives posed for his picture one fine day, and you see 
the result in the engraving. 

The shell is umbilicated and seven-whorled; the 
spire is low conical, and the outer lip is but slightly 
thickened. The peristome is whitish, but the shell 
is dark chestnut, with a still darker band, which is 




AIR-BREATHING SNAILS AND SLUGS 281 

edged with equal stripes of light yellow. The ani- 
mal is slate-colored, and its surface is covered with 
numerous little elevations. The diameter of the shell 
is about three-fourth of an inch, though specimens 
are occasionally found that are somewhat larger. 
During the past summer a box of fine live specimens 
was given me by a lady in Pacific Grove, who had 
found a fine colony of them in her garden. I have 
placed these in a snailery, and hope to induce them 
to live and multiply. 

Epiphragmophora sequoicola, Cooper, is the Red- 
wood Snail. This species resembles the last in size 
and general form, but it has a more elevated spire. 
The surface of the shell is not smooth, but is some- 
what roughened by cross lines, while the upper 
whorls have many crowded granulations. It is found 
in wooded regions in the vicinity of the coast, near 
Santa Cruz. 

Epiphragmophora iraskii, Newc, Trask's Snail, 
comes from the coastal regions of southern Cali- 
fornia. It has a small umbilicus, six whorls not 
greatly elevated, which are dark horn-colored, and 
bear a chestnut band that is edged on both sides with 
white or yellow. The surface is marked with micro- 
scopic striae. The diameter of the shell is usually 
less than an inch. There are several varieties. 

Epiphragmophora carpenter}, Newc, Carpenter's 
Snail, comes from San Diego and Mexico. It resem- 
bles the last species, but has a more delicate shell. It 
is a decidedly southern form of snail. 

Epiphragmophora coloradoensis, Stearns, the 
Colorado Snail, was originally found near the Grand 



282 



WEST COAST SHELLS 





Canyon of the Colorado, oppo- 
site the Kaibab plateau, at an 
elevation of 3500 feet. The 
views of the shell given in Fig- 
ure 271 are magnified to twice 
their real diameter, but they 
give the form with great detail. 
The shell is rather fragile, and 
varies from pale horn-color to 
white, with a reddish brown 
band. 

Epiphragmophora exarata, 
Pfr., the Furrowed Snail, is a 
species which resembles a small 
specimen of the next species. 
The shell is yellowish in color, 
with a narrow band of chest- 
nut, and the surface is decid- 
edly plowed up with fine trans- 
verse furrows. There are seven 
whorls, ending in a white, 
slightly reflected lip. This spe- 
cies is from the coast region of 

California, both north and south of San Francisco. 

Its diameter is about an inch. 
Epiphragmophora arrosa, 

Gld., the Dented Snail, 

shown in Figure 272, has a 

fine, large, and rather solid 

shell. The seven whorls, 

which are yellowish-brown 

in color, are banded with a Fig. 272 




Fig. 271, 



(*) 





AIR-BREATHING SNAILS AND SLUGS 283 

dark stripe, sometimes wider than is represented in 
the cut. The shell is quite rough, with furrows and 
hammer marks, and the umbilicus is distinct, though 
partly covered with the reflexed peristome. The 
home of this species is along the coast of central 
California, especially in Marin County. I found 
several fine specimens there in the summer-time by 
turning over the dry leaves under the buckeye trees. 

Epiphragtnophora calif ornien- 
sis, Lea, the California Snail, is 
shown in Figure 273. The origi- 
nal specimens of this much dis- 
puted species came from Monte- 
rey, and that is where it now 
grows to perfection. It loves 
sand and sea-air and Astragalus leaves, and in sum- 
mer it may be found near Point Pinos, buried in the 
sandy soil, underneath the abundant clumps of Rat- 
tleweed. The figure represents an unusually large 
specimen. The shell is thin, delicate, and almost 
globular in form; it is of a light horn-color, with a 
dark band. 

While the shell just described is almost spherical, 
a number of varieties exist which diverge from the 
typical shape very materially. In fact, it has been 
a disputed point whether they are at all related, but 
as the general trend of modern research inclines in 
the direction of unity, they will be so classified in 
this book. If anyone prefers to consider them as 
distinct species he will have many good reasons for 
his opnion. 

Var. nickliniana. Lea. Shell minutely umbilica- 



284 WEST COAST SHELLS 

ted, rather thin, faintly indented and granulated; 
ash-yellow with a chestnut band, lip white, reflexed 
at the base. Whorls six, spire moderately elevated, 
diameter one inch. It lives near the coast of central 
California. 

Var. ramentosa, Gld. The surface of the shell is 
cut up into innumerable checks, which are shown by 
a lens to consist of little oblong grains, arranged 
parallel to the lines of growth. The epidermis of 
the young ones is studded with little bristles. 
Diameter about three-fourths of an inch. This 
form is found in Alameda Co., Cal., and in adjacent 
regions. 

Var. diabloensis, J. G. Cooper, has a flattened 
shell, umbilicated and thin, with regular mallea- 
tions arranged in revolving series, like dents caused 
by the blows of a small hammer. Diameter rather 
less than an inch. From the Coast Mountains of 
central California, being named from its occurrence 
near Mt. Diablo. 

Var. contracostae, Pils., is smaller than the last 
variety, yellowish straw-colored, only slightly mal- 
leated, outer lip thickened. From Byron Hot 
Springs, Contra Costa Co., Cal. 

Epiphragmophora ayresiana, Newc, Ayer's 
Snail, is a species from the islands of Santa Rosa, 
San Miguel and Santa Cruz. The shell is quite 
strong, six-whorled, and it has a considerably ele- 
vated .spire and a distinct umbilicus. Microscopic 
striae may be traced upon the shell. It is of a 
brown or chestnut color, and it is usually girdled 



AIR-BREATHING SNAILS AND SLUGS 285 

with a broad, dark band. Its diameter is three- 
fourths of an inch. 

Epiphragmophora tudiculata, Binney, the 
Bruised Snail, has a large shell, rather thin, marked 
with numerous indentations; umbilicus nearly or 
completely closed, peristome white, and thickened 
near the umbilicus. The six whorls are of an olive 
brown color, and a rather wide band with a lighter 
space above and below it encircles the body-whorl. 
Its diameter is upwards of an inch. This is a 
southern species, being found about San Diego, also 
ranging through Tulare and adjacent counties to 
the Sierras. Var. umbilicata, Pils., shell smoothish, 
malleation weak, umbilicus widely open, diameter 
27 mm. ; from San Luis Obispo Co., Cal. 

Epiphragmophora gabbi, Newc, Gabb's Snail, 
comes from San Clemente Island. The shells are 
about the size of large peas, thin, light horn-colored, 
with a dark band. Var. facta, Newc, is more solid 
and compact; shell, whitish, peristome yellowish, 
thick and reflected. From Santa Barbara and San 
Nicolas Islands. 

Epiphragmophora rufocincta, Newc, the Red- 
banded Snail, is a small species from Catalina Is- 
land. The shell is smooth, thin, with a low spire. 
Horn-colored, with the ever present band of chestnut 
which marks so many of the California snail shells. 
The diameter is 17 mm. 

Epiphragmophora intercisa^ W '. G. B., the Horse- 
shoe Snail, has a shell strong, solid, with lines of 
growth distinct and crossed by spiral lines cutting 
the surface into little blocks. The aperture is oblique 
and shaped like a horseshoe. The color is white or 




286 WEST COAST SHELLS 

brown, sometimes obscurely banded; diameter 22 
mm. From San Clemente and Santa Cruz Islands. 
Epiphragmophora tryoni, Newc, 
Tryon's Snail, is shown in Figure 
274. The shell is strong and solid, 
globose conical, with a rounded 
apex and five regular whorls. The 
Fig. 274 surface is reticulated, or cut into 

fine checks by the crossing of spiral 
threads and the lines of growth. The color varies 
from white to brown and the whorls are often 
banded, while the upper half of each whorl is usu- 
ally darker than the corresponding lower half. The 
animal is said to be black. Chiefly from Santa 
Barbara Island. 

Epiphragmophora kellettii, Fbs., Kellett's Snail. 
The shell consists of six whorls, the spire is rather 
low, and the umbilicus is nearly closed. Shell 
smooth, color varying from whitish to brown, usu- 
ally mottled, with a dark ring around the center of 
the body- whorl. Diameter about an inch. From 
Catalina Island, where it is reported as plentiful on 
and under old cactus branches. 

Epiphragmophora stear?isiana, Gabb, Stearns's 
Snail, is sometimes called a variety of the last spe- 
cies. The shell is narrowly umbilicated, solid, with 
fine incremental striae. Whitish, with ash-colored 
spots and a brown band. Found on the seaward 
side of Point Loma, San Diego, where most of the 
specimens are dead, and in Lower California. 

Epiphragmophora arnheimi, Dall, Arnheim's 
Snail. This small snail is found in Contra Costa 
Co., Cal., near San Pablo. Its diameter is 18 mm. 



AIR-BREATHING SNAILS AND SLUGS 



287 




Fig. 275 



The suture is deep, also the umbilicus, while the lip 
is unusually thick for the size of the shell. 

Glyptostoma newberryanum, W. 
G. Binney, Newberry's Snail, is a 
very distinct species, found in 
southern California, particularly 
around San Diego. A basal view 
of a small specimen is shown in 
Figure 275, but large ones grow 
to a diameter of an inch and a half. The spire is 
flattened, and the umbilicus is very large, distinctly 
showing the coil of rounded whorls. The lip of the 
aperture is thin and acute, the whorls are six in num- 
ber, and the color of the shell is dark brown, some- 
times almost black. It is quite distinct from any 
other shell. 

Polygyra townsendiana. 
Lea, Townsend's Snail. This 
distinct species, whose fine 
large shell is shown in Figure 
276, is a true northerner, be- 
ing found mostly in Oregon, 
Washington, and even much 
The shell is strong, the spire 
but little elevated, the color yellowish or brownish, 
sometimes mottled. Peristome like a white horse- 
shoe, umbilicus large and distinct. The surface is 
marked with many microscopic spiral lines, which 
are crossed by roughened ridges. Var. ptychophora^ 
A. D. Brown, is found in Idaho and eastern Oregon. 
The shell is nearly smooth and is of a light horn- 
color, but it has the regular markings, and the broad. 




Fig. 276 

farther to the north. 




288 WEST COAST SHELLS 

white peristome of the typical specimens; diameter, 
20 mm. 

Polygyra Columbiana, Lea, the 
Columbia Snail, Figure 277, is a spe- 
cies which extends from Alaska south- 
Fig. 277 ward into California. Whorls six, um- 
bilicus small, peristome reflected, aper- 
ture ear-shaped. In some varieties, as shown in the 
cut, there is a small white tooth on the inner wall 
of the aperture. The figure is of the natural size. 
The shell is light horn-colored, and the epidermis 
on the upper whorls is set with short, stiff, micro- 
scopic hairs. Var. ar??iigera, Ancey, is smaller, more 
globose and convex beneath, and more beset with 
hairs, which are arranged in very oblique rows. Var. 
labiosa, Gld., has a nearly circular aperture and 
widely reflected peristome. 

Polygyra devia, Gld., the Devious Snail, is a spe- 
cies which lives in Oregon; it has also crossed the 
Cascade Mountains and entered Idaho. The shell 
is horn-colored or brown, solid and six-whorled. The 
peristome is white, wide, and bent back at right 
angles to the wall of the aperture. There is a dis- 
tinct white tooth on the inner wall of the aperture, 
and sometimes one or more waves on the peristome. 
There are several varieties which range from half an 
inch to a whole one in diameter. 

Polygyra ??iullani, Bland, Mullan's Snail, was at 
one time considered as a small variety of the last 
species, but it is now believed to be distinct. The 
shell is shining, with a thin epidermis covered with 
minute spiral lines and tubercles. The aperture is 



AIR-BREATHING SNAILS AND SLUGS 



289 



three-lobed, and the umbilicus is partly covered by 
the lip. The shell is dark horn-colored, and the 
diameter is half an inch. This species is especially 
found in eastern Washington and Idaho. 

Polygyra loricata, Gld., the Mailed Snail, has a 
little shell only a quarter of an inch in diameter, 
but its five and a half whorls are very distinct. The 
umbilicus is small but deep, and the spire is low and 
dome-shaped. Aperture irregular, with white tooth 
on the columella and two thickened spots on the 
outer lip; surface horn-colored. Found in California 
near San Francisco, and also in the Sierras. 

Polygyra mearnsii, Dall, 
Mearns's Snail, is shown in Figure 
278. This shell is of a pinkish- 
brown color, and the details of its 
structure are well brought out in 
the three figures. Its diameter is 
about half an inch. It is found in 
Arizona and New Mexico. 

Vallonia pulchella, Mull., the 
Beautiful Vallonia, is a little mol- 
lusk whose shell consists of four 
rounded whorls arranged in a flat- 
tened spiral form. The umbilicus 
is large and open, the aperture 
nearly circular, the peristome white, 
reflected, and forming a nearly complete circle. 
The shell is whitish, thin, and in our variety is usu- 
ally marked by cross-ribs. Its diameter is barely an 
eighth of an inch. This species is very widely dis- 
tributed. A few years ago it suddenly appeared in 




Fig. 278. x ? (*) 



290 



WEST COAST SHELLS 



Los Angeles, in the yard of Dr. Stearns. It has 
been reported from Oakland and many other locali- 
ties in California, also from Utah and adjacent 
states. 

Vallonia costatu, Mull, the Ribbed Yallonia, is 
another very small species, the shell being only 2.5 
mm. in diameter. Horn-colored, nearly fiat, urn- 
bilicated, with regularly set membranous ribs, and 
fine striae between them. It has about the same 
range as the last species. 

A genus of medium sized mollusks living chiefly 
in New Mexico was named by Professor Pilsbry 
Ashmunella, in honor of the late Rev. E. H. Ash- 
mun, of happy memory, who united with his clerical 
duties the enthusiasm of the naturalist. The shells 
in general are about half an inch across, horn-col- 
ored, with five or six whorls, a small but distinct 
umbilicus, and a white, reflexed outer lip. Some of 
them were formerly referred to the genus Polygyra. 
In this book I shall not attempt to name them all, 
but will mention a few, specimens of most of which 
were sent me by Mr. Ashmun him- 
self. 

Ash mu n ell 'a rkyssa, Dall, the 
Wrinkled Snail, is shown in Fig- 
ure 279. The shell consists of six 
rounded, yellowish whorls, which 
are crossed by very numerous 
wrinkles. The reflected peristome 
is white, and immediately behind 
it the shell is considerably con- 
Fig. 279, x 1 c*) stricted. It was collected in the 




AIR-BREATHING SNAILS AND SLUGS 



291 



White Mountains of New Mex- 
ico by Rev. E. H. Ashmun. 
The diameter is 17 millimeters. 
Some of the specimens of this 
species have a white tooth on 
the columella, as is shown in 
the figure; in others it is very 
small or absent altogether. 

Ashmunella ■pseudodonta, 
Dall, the False-toothed Snail. 
Figure 280 gives us two en- 
larged views of this shell. I 
have a specimen which is nearly 
three- 





Fig. 280, x I (*) 



Fig. 281. x i (*) 



fourths 

of an inch across in its largest 
diameter. It is distinctly horn- 
colored, but is nearly smooth, 
showing lines of growth but no 
ridges. It has a very faint be- 
ginning of a tooth. Other 
specimens are smaller, and 
more nearly resemble the figure. 
Ashmunella ashmuni, Dall, 
Ashmun' s Snail. Three en- 
larged views of this pretty little 
shell are given in Figure 281. 
The diameter is 14 millimeters. 
The horn-colored whorls are 
crossed by a great number ot 
very tine lines oi growth. One 
ot my specimens shows a very 



292 



WEST COAST SHELLS 



small elevation on the columella, as if it were the 
beginning of a tooth. The reflected peristome is 
not pure white, but partakes of the shade of the 
shell. Altogether it is a very pretty species; the 
well defined umbilicus, the distinct and clearly de- 
fined whorls, and the rich color making it one of the 
most attractive of our smaller snails. It comes from 
Bland, New Mexico, at an elevation of 8,000 feet 
above the level of the sea. 

Aslimunella levettei, Bland, Levette's Snail, 
(Polygyra levettei), has a shell that is umbilicated, 
thin, shining, translucent, obliquely striated, with 
seven whorls. Aperture with a transverse parietal 
tooth, with teeth on the lip also. Peristome pale 
chestnut-colored, diameter 17 mm. It is found near 
Santa Fe, N. M. 

Ashmunella chiricahiiana, 
Dall, the Chiricahuana Snail, 
{Polygyra chiricahuana), is 
shown in a magnified form in 
Figure 282. The shell is de- 
pressed, thin, polished, and of 
a dark brownish color. The lip 
is strongly reflected and the 
aperture is destitute of teeth; 
diameter 18 mm.; from Ari- 
zona and New Mexico. 

Cochlicopa lubrica, Mull, 

the Brilliant, {Ferussacia sub- 

cylindrica), is shown in Figure 

283. The little creature to 

Fig. 282, x 1 (*) which this shell belongs lives 




AIR-BREATHING SNAILS AND SLUGS 293 

chiefly in forests, concealing itself under 
leaves and the bark of dead trees. It is about I 
the size and shape of a grain of wheat, thin, 
dark horn-colored, very bright and glistening. 

. • ' 17 U V • Fig - 283 

Ihis species lives in Europe, where it is 
known in France as "la brillante," also in the East- 
ern states, Alaska, Oregon, and Utah, and it has 
even been collected on Grizzly Peak, back of the 
University of California. 

The members of the old genus Pupa are 

4-q| mostly very small, though some of them grow 
to a fairly good size. The shell shown in 
Fig. 284 ]Tjg ure 284 is a representative of this great 
division of land shells. The picture is small enough, 
but even the little cross beside it is too large for 
truth. The name is Vertigo calif ornica, Rowell, the 
California Pupa. The shell is brown, and on the 
sides of the aperture are four tiny white teeth. It 
lives in various parts of California on the mainland, 
and two varieties live on Catalina Island. 

The Pupas belong to a very ancient family, as we 
know from the fact that a little fossil shell belong- 
ing to this genus was found in a coal mine in Nova 
Scotia, and is reckoned as the oldest land shell ever 
discovered. They take their name apparently from 
their resemblance to the cocoon of an insect, which 
in turn is supposed to resemble a doll. Main of 
these shells are exceedingly minute, measuring less 
than two millimeters in length. The) are usually 
found in lowly positions, such as among grass roots, 
under old cacti, in river drift and similar positions. 



294 



WEST COAST SHELLS 




Fig. 285, x f (*) 



The shells are so very small that only a few of them 
will be mentioned. 

H o I o s pir a arizonensis, 
Stearns, the Arizona Pupa, is 
shown in a magnified form in 
Figure 285. The shell is 
really but half an inch long; 
the figure, however, brings 
out the details of its struc- 
ture. In color it varies from 
dingy-white to pale-horn. It 
was collected at Dos Cabezas, 
Arizona. 

Some of the species of the 
old genus Pupa are now known as Bifid aria, among 
which we may mention Bifid aria armifera, Say, the 
Armored Pupa. This species is found all through 
the East; it has also been collected in New Mexico. 
It is relatively quite large, being from 2 to 4 mm. 
in length. It resembles Figure 284, but has six or 
seven whorls, and the aperture is almost filled with 
projecting teeth. 

Figure 286 gives a view of the shell of 
Succinea ovalis, var. haydeni, W. G. B., 
Hayden's Amber-snail. In general it may 
be said that the Amber-snails are rather 
small mollusks, which love moisture, though 
they do not often enter the water. The yel- 
lowish shell of this species is long, thin, and 
few-whorled. The aperture is very large and from 
its base you can look inside the shell to its very apex. 
The spire is small and consists of three delicate 




AIR-BREATHING SNAILS AND SLUGS 295 

whorls. The length of the whole shell is three- 
fourths of an inch. The specimen from which the 
drawing was made was collected near Salt Lake, 
Utah. 

Succinea avara, Say, the Greedy Amber- 
snail, Figure 287, has a smaller shell than /I 
the last species. It is delicate and horn- iP 
colored, and the figure is rather larger than 
the real shell. This species is reported from 
Idaho and southern California. Several varieties of 
this species live on the Santa Barbara Islands. 

Succinea rustica, Gld., the Rustic Amber-snail, is 
found in Oregon, California, and Nevada. The 
shell is thin and fragile, of a pale greenish horn- 
color; surface rough and without luster, spire acute, 
length half an inch. 

Succinea oregonensis, Lea, the Oregon Amber- 
snail. Shell one-fourth of an inch in length, though 
sometimes longer, thin, yellow, rather coarsely stri- 
ated, with an aperture two-thirds the length of the 
shell. 

Onchidella carpentcri, W. G. Binney, Carpenter's 
Onchidella. This is a little creature shaped like a 
short, fat Limax, with the ends rounded and the 
upper surface arched. The coriaceous mantle over- 
hangs the locomotive disk. The body is smoke- 
colored, and its length is one-fifth of an inch. It 
lives near the water, and is found from the Straits 
of Fuca to Mexico. 

Onchidella borealis, Dall, the Northern Onchi- 
della, is but little larger than the last species. The 
Surface of the creature is black, with dots and 



296 WEST COAST SHELLS 

streaks of yellowish- white ; its foot is light-colored, 
also the muzzle and tentacles. It is found at Sitka, 
and on Vancouver Island. 

CEPHALOPODS 

At this point we will briefly consider our members 
of the highest class of mollusks, the Cephalopods. 
They are rather poorly represented on our coast, 
though one species at least exists in great numbers. 
Shells of a Paper Nautilus, Argonauta pacifica, Dall, 
are sometimes washed ashore on the Santa Barbara 
Islands. The}- are white, thin and delicate, and are 
very different from ordinary shells. A much more 
common species of this class is the Octopus, or Devil- 
fish, or Cuttle, of our coast, Polypus punctatus, 
Gabb, small specimens of which are frequently cap- 
tured alive in little tide-pools, though in the open 
sea it grows to startling dimensions. 

The Octopus is one of the most remarkable crea- 
tures of the sea, and man) T are the tales, true and 
otherwise, which have been told of his structure and 
his actions. He has eight long, active legs, without 
bones or stiffness, which are arranged like the rays 
of a starfish. Above the center of the star is the bag- 
shaped body, and near the junction of the body and 
legs is the head, with its two staring eyes, its parrot- 
like beak, and its siphon pipe, by means of which 
the creature can propel himself backward through 
the water. 

It is an active animal at times, creeping briskly 
over the stones at the bottom of the water, or swim- 
ming rapidly with its legs trailing behind. It has 



AIR-BREATHING SNAILS AND SLUGS 297 

the power of changing its complexion at will, looking 
pale and ash-colored when it is near sand, flushed 
and angry when among red seaweeds, and dark and 
bluish whenever such a color will best serve its pur- 
pose of concealment. There is no magic in his trans- 
formations, either, for he is only controlling the 
multitudes of little paint bags that lie in his skin, 
and making any desired tint prominent, or conceal- 
ing them all. At any rate, there are few more inter- 
esting creatures to watch in an aquarium, or even in 
a jar of sea-water, than a young cuttle. Small speci- 
mens have legs some two or three inches long, while 
large ones weigh a hundred pounds or more. 

The true scientific names of the next two species 
are at present quite uncertain, though it is probable 
that both species will be placed in the genus Loligo, 
and that other changes may be found necessary. The 
names used in a former edition are, however, pro- 
visionally retained. 

Qmmastre plies tryoni, Gabb, is the common Squid 
of Monterey and other fishing ports. They used to 
be caught in vast numbers by the Chinese fishermen 
of the above named city, and the houses and boats 
belonging to the fishing village were a very pictur- 
esque addition to the sights of the coast. The men 
went out at night, when the bay was quiet, some of 
their boats bearing huge torches, while the others 
were provided with scoop-nets. The silly squids rise 
to the surface to see the light and are easily captured. 
Next day they are spread out to dry, some of the best 
on racks, but most of them on the parched grass of 
a field. From time to time they are turned, and 



298 WEST COAST SHELLS 

when thoroughly cured they are packed in huge bales 
and sent to China for food. The average length of 
the common squid is about eight inches. It differs 
from the Octopus by having shorter legs, and a long, 
straight body, with an arrow-shaped tail. It is this 
long body that contains the white muscle which is so 
highly prized as food. 

Another squid, Ommastrephes gic/as, d'Orb., is 
occasionally taken at Monterey, which measures fully 
a yard in length. Its body is stiffened by a trans- 
parent "pen," shaped somewhat like a large feather. 
Other cuttles contain the "cuttle bones" which we 
feed to our canary birds ; they also have bags of ink, 
or sepia, and so the Cephalopods are sometimes called 
the "Literary Family of the Sea." 



CHAPTER XIII 

SHELLS OF LAKES AND STREAMS 

By Harold Hannibal 

The fresh-water mollusks include both Gastero- 
pods and Pelecypods. They may be distinguished 
from most other shells by having a greenish or 
brownish horny epidermis covering the shell, to pro- 
tect it from the corrosive acids in the waters in which 
they live. Unlike the land and marine shells, they 
have been little studied, and many interesting 
things can be learned by anyone who takes the 
trouble to observe them. Most of the species are 
not common or are found at but few localities. For 
this reason the writer has selected for description 
only some of the more wide-spread and particularly 
interesting forms, but representing nearly all the 
genera. 

For convenience the distribution is given by drain- 
age basins or systems. The Columbia System in- 
cludes the entire Columbia, Fraser, and Umpqua 
Basins. The Utah System includes the eastern por- 
tion of the Great Basin which drains into the former 
Lake Bonneville. The Nevada System includes the 
western portion of the (Treat Basin draining into 
the former Lake Lahontan, and the Owens Basin and 
Mojave Desert in California. The Klamath System 
includes the Klamath and Rogue Basins, the Sierras 



300 WEST COAST SHELLS 

north of Yosemite Valley, and the Coast Ranges 
south to San Francisco Bay. The Coast Range 
System includes the coastal drainage south to Point 
Conception, the Sacramento-San Joaquin Valley, 
and the west slope of the southern Sierra Nevadas. 
The Los Angeles System includes the coastal drain- 
age of southern California south to the San Pedro 
Martir Mountains in Baja California. The Colo- 
rado System includes the drainage oi the Colorado 
River above The Needles. The Arizona System 
includes the Gila and Salton Basins and the Colo- 
rado Delta. 

THE NAIADS OR RIVER MUSSELS 

(XJnonidcz) 

In almost any large perennial stream or lake are 
to be found members of this interesting group. They 
are especially abundant both in species and indi- 
viduals in the tributaries of the Mississippi River, for 
those streams flow over limestone which dissolves and 
forms abundant material for their shells. They 
often attain a large size; some species are as big as 
this book. Of late years an enormous industry has 
developed of collecting these shells for the purpose 
of making pearl buttons and as a result their num- 
bers have been terribly depleted and laws are being 
enacted to protect them. Since only large, heav)' 
shells are used, collectors on this coast need not 
worry, for our species are too few in numbers, too 
small, and too fragile. Pearls are often found in 
these mussels: the writer has obtained them in both 



SHELLS OF LAKES AND STREAMS 301 

Gonidea and Margaritana. They are seldom of 
value however. 

The Naiads have a very interesting life history. 
The young, called glochidia, after being hatched in 
the parents' gills are thrown out into the water in 
vast numbers. The glochidium is a minute, curious 
creature, armed with hooks, and hangs suspended by 
a byssus from some aquatic plant. An unwary fish 
bumps against it; immediately the glochidium clings 
to it by its hooks. It remains attached about three 
months when it has grown a shell and become so 
heavy that it falls to the bottom. Then it grows 
into an Anodonta or whatever its parents were. 
Many die to one which survives, but the Naiads are 
prolific and keep up the species while this peculiar 
method serves to distribute them. 

One warm day while on a collecting trip, I stopped 
at the bridge over the San Lorenzo River below 
Felton, Cal., and prepared to investigate the clammy 
mysteries of the river. This river is a splendid 
stream, broad and clear, running between high banks 
lined with willows, alders, and other water-loving 
trees. After the dusty road it felt good to wade 
along in the cool water and feel the clean sand-grains 
sift across one's toes. Whoop! A startled bluej ay 
flew screaming from a neighboring tree where he 
had been suspiciously eyeing me. I bared my arm, 
reached into the water, and picked up a dark object 
partly buried in the bottom. Shaking the sand off 
I held up a tine specimen of Margaritana margariti- 
fera, Linne, the Pearly Naiad, Plate 1, Fig. 4. It 



302 WEST COAST SHELLS 

was covered with a glossy mahogany epidermis ex- 
cept at the umbos, where the sand grains had worn 
nearly through the stout shell. Opening it with my 
knife, I beheld a lining of an orange as brilliant as 
an Eschscholtzia. Dropping it into my bag I con- 
tinued my wading. Another ! Opening this I found 
it a beautiful royal purple. A third was an exquisite 
pale blue, a blue no artist might duplicate. As I 
look at the faded shells now I think how elusive is 
nature and how impossible to more than imitate her. 

The shell is elliptical with one central tooth at 
the umbo in the right valve, and two in the left. 
In some specimens these are small, in others large 
and there is a trace of lateral teeth. It is the only 
species on the Pacific Slope that has more than a 
suggestion of teeth. The pearly interior is purple, 
orange, blue, pink, or green. The color is very fugi- 
tive. The shells of this and other Naiads should be 
rubbed with a very little vaseline and wiped dry 
with a bit of cotton. This will prevent them from 
cracking and preserve the color in a measure if kept 
in the dark. 

This species delights in clear, swift streams where 
it lies partly buried in the gravel or sand bottom. 
Found in the Columbia, Klamath, Utah, Nevada, 
and a few places in the Coast Range System, also in 
New England, Europe and Asia. 

Anodonta cygnea, Linne (A. oregonensis), the 
Swan Naiad, Plate II, Fig. 7, with its numerous 
forms, is one of the most common, widely dis- 
tributed, and variable river mussels, which is saying 



SHELLS OF LAKES AND STREAMS 



303 



a good deal 



Hence it has been described on this 
Coast and Europe under over a hundred names. 
The American varieties are discussed by the writer 
elsewhere and the three best marked retained; these 
are the typical form, A. c. beringiana, Midd., and 
A. c. impura, Say. 

The typical shell is buff or green-brown, inflated, 
sub-elliptical, with low umbos, and a straight, nar- 
row, toothless hinge-line. Within it is iridescent 
blue or pearly-white. This form is the common one 
in Eurasia and the Columbia and Klamath Systems. 
It is found occasionally farther south. 

The common southern form, Anodonta cygnea 
impura, Say {A. ivahlamatensis, A. nuttalliana^ A. 
calif omiensis), the Winged Naiad, Figure 288, is 




Fig. 



304 



WEST COAST SHELLS 



disco-triangular, flattened, light green or brown out- 
side, iridescent or pearly within, and has a pro- 
nounced posterior wing. It inhabits streams and 
lakes in the Utah, Nevada, Coast Range, Los An- 
geles and Arizona Systems, also the western drain- 
age of Mexico. It is found less commonly as far 
north as British Columbia. 

A species resembling an Anodonta and long 




Fig. 289 



classed with them is Gem idea angulata, Lea, the 
Pacific Naiad, Figure 289. This lacks the hinge- 
teeth except as rudiments, is rather pointed in front, 
somewhat triangular, and is unequally divided 
by a carina or angle extending from the umbo 
to the lower posterior corner of the shell. Pearly 
within, nacre blue, pink, or yellow brown. Speci- 
mens with ova are a brilliant copper color which, 
however, soon fades after death. 

Found in the Columbia, Klamath, and Coast 
Range Systems, usually in clay banks or beds of 
streams. 



SHELLS OF LAKES AND STREAMS 305 

THE SPHERE AND PEA SHELLS 

(Sph<zrid<z) 

In springs, lakes, and streams having a mud bot- 
tom are found small shells distantly related to the 
Cardiums of the ocean. They are curious little fel- 
lows and have interesting habits and peculiarities of 
distribution. 

One of the largest on the Pacific Slope is 
Spharium dentatum, Haldeman, the Harrowed 
Sphere-shell, Plate II, Fig. 5. It is moderately in- 
flated, oblong-elliptical, with low umbos set some- 
what forward. The shell is covered with low 
growth ridges. It lives in lakes and streams in the 
Columbia, Klamath, and Nevada Systems. 

Musculiu??i resembles Spharium but the shells are 
thin, light colored, and usually have a little cap or 
calycule on each umbo. 

One June day, while on a collecting trip near Te- 
hama, in northern California, I called to my friend, 
an odd little German, to stop as we came to a large 
pool at the roadside. Unhooking my net, I jumped 
off my wheel to collect a few shells. The net con- 
sisted of a heavy wire ring about six inches across 
with a piece of burlap sewed into it forming a shal- 
low bag. A smaller loop of the wire an inch or two 
across served to hold it by, and made it convenient 
to carry on the handle-bars of my wheel. Scooping 
the net full of mud, I shook it carefully under the 
water, picking sticks, leaves, and grave] our by hand 
while the mud washed through. Leaving only fine 



306 WEST COAST SHELLS 

sand and grit. Lifting the net out, I was surprised 
to find a common Eastern Musculium, M. partu- 
meium, Say, PL l, Fig. f, among the spoils. This 
was a find and I gathered many specimens, dumping 
them into a tobacco-tin along with grit, etc., to be 
sorted out on my return, when dry. 

This species appears to be an old settler for it has 
turned up since at a number of places on the coast. 
The shape is nearly circular, except it is squared off 
posteriorly. It is not generally very inflated and 
the umbos are low. Found in pools and lakes prob- 
ably all over northern and central United States 
and southern Canada. 

Raymond's Calycule shell, Musculium raymondi, 
J. G. Cooper, PI. I, Fig. 3, differs from the preced- 
ing by its trigonal shape and high inflated umbos. 
Its habits are similar and it is found in the Colum- 
bia, Klamath, Nevada and Coast Range Systems. 
Its identity has been suggested with M. rhykoW, a 
European species which is said also to occur in the 
Eastern States. 

Fisidium abditum, Haldeman, the Hidden Pea- 
shell, Plate I, Fig. 1, is a tiny fellow found in 
springs, quiet streams, and ponds all over North 
America. Like most widely distributed species it 
is rather variable and has been given a number of 
names. It is rather small for the genus, ovate, 
rather inflated, with low nearly central umbos, and 
it is usually brown in color. 

Pisidium co?npressum, Prime, the Trigonal Pea- 
shell, PL I, Fig. 2, differs in being very inflated and 
trigonal, with high umbos. It is yellow or brown 



SHELLS OF LAKES AND STREAMS 307 

in color and has similar habits to the last. Found 
over most of North America. 

There are numerous other species in this family on 
the Pacific Slope but they are only known from a few 
localities. 

THE POND SNAILS 

(Hygrophila) 

This is the best represented group on the coast 
and contains many species. All have thin horny 
shells and differ from the Pleuroceridse and succeed- 
ing families by breathing by lungs instead of gills 
and by the absence of an operculum. They are 
found in lakes and streams as well as ponds. 

(Lymrueida) 

The largest of this group is Lymntea stagnalis, 
Linne, the Pond Lymnaea, Figure 290. This species 
is distinguished by its long slender 
spire and large body whorl. All the 
members of this genus and especially 
this species live in quiet streams or 
lakes. Found in Eastern North 
America, Eurasia, and the Colum- 
bia, Klamath, Nevada, and Utah 
Systems. 

The Marsh Lymnsea, L. palustris, 
Miiller, Figure 291, is one of the most 
abundant and widespread of the pul- 
monates. It occurs in Europe, Northern Asia and all 
over North America from the Yukon tundras nearly 
to Mexico. It does not occur in the Los Angeles 





308 WEST COAST SHELLS 

or Arizona System but is found in all the 
others. It is rather variable but can usu- 
ally be easily recognized. It is large, with 
the length of the aperture about equal to 
the height of the spire, which is not so 
slender as that of L. stagnalis. The shell 
is often marked by line spiral lines and 
FiIT29i again by malleations giving it an appear- 
ance of mosaic. It is dark horn-color. 
hymns a obri/ssa, Say, the Narrow-mouth Lym- 
nsea, PL III, Fig. 7, resembles small specimens of 
the last but has a narrower aperture, thinner shell 
and lacks the spiral lines. It is found on confervse 
in rapid streams, ponds and often in merely moist 
places, in the United States and southern Canada. 
On the west coast it occurs as far south as the Colo- 
rado, Utah, Nevada, and Coast Range Systems. 

Lymncza cubensis, Pfeirfer, the Cuban Lymnsea, 
PL III, Fig. 4, and its several varieties are among 
our most common shells, but are usually overlooked 
as they are seldom found in the water, but usually 
near it or on floating algae. They have a straight 
reflexed pillar; some are stubby and some are slen- 
der; some have a nearly closed umbilicus and some 
a wide open one. The following table will perhaps 
explain their relations better than a lengthy descrip- 
tion. In general the forms with an open umbilicus 
are not found north of the Coast Range System, 
while the forms with a closed umbilicus do not 
range south of it. Inhabits the Antilles, Florida, 
Mexico, and nearly the whole United States west 
of the Mississippi River, replacing Lymncza caperata 
of the Eastern States. 



SHELLS OF LAKES AND STREAMS 



309 



Umbilicus Nearly Closed, 

Shell Horny, Northern 

in Distribution 



Umbilicus Open, Shell Usu- 
ally PORCELLAINOUS, 

Southern in Distribution 



I 



var. sonomacusis, Pilsbry, 
PI. Ill, Fig. 5, Sonoma 
Lymnaea. 



var. cockerelli, Pilsbry, PI. 
Ill, Fig. 2, Cockerell's 
Lymngea. 



L. c. bulimoides, Lea, PI. Ill, 
Fig. 1, Bulimus Lymnaea. 



L. cubensis, Pfeiffer, PI. Ill, 
Fig. 4, Cuban Lymnaea. 



var. sancti-josephi, Hannibal, 
PI. Ill, Fig. 6, San Jose 
Lvmnaea. 



var. bryanti, Baker, PI. Ill, 
Fig. 3, Walker's Lymnaea. 



(Planorbidd?) 

In the hills east of Madrone, CaL, are two pretty 
little lakes of great depth set end to end on top of 
a high ridge. About them is a dense growth of oaks 
and other trees. It is an ideal place to go and spend 
the day alone with nature, lounging in the shade, 
listening to the birds and myriad insect life, and 
watching the ever-changing colors of the forest. One 
wonders at the hurry and worry of life. Oh, to live 
like the lotus-eaters ! Suddenly the fickle sun sets in 
a blaze of glory behind the Santa Cruz Mountains. 
Five miles to the depot and no supper till you get 
home. 

In these Twin Lakes occur fine specimens of Plan- 
orbis trivolvis, Say, the Three-whorled Planorbis, 
Figures 292 and 293, a common species found all 
over North America, 
in a horizontal coil with a flat 
umbilicus and depressed spire. It 
is over an inch across and marked 
by fine growth ridges. Found in 
quiet streams, ditches, and lakes. 
There are a large number of so- Fig.292,x 



Hie shell grows about itself 





310 WEST COAST SHELLS 

called species including P. amnion, 
based on physiological deformations 
of this; Fig. 293 is a fairly normal 
specimen while Fig. 292 is a common 
Fig - 293 deformation. 

Planorbis opercularis, Gould, the Opercul urn-like 
Planorbis, Plate II, Figs. 8, 12, is a small species 
with a flat spire, deep narrow umbilicus, and a keel 
at the edge of the flattened upper surface. In var. 
planulatus, W. Cooper, PI. II, Fig. 10, the keel is 
more blunt and medial. Var. centercillensis, Tryon, 
Plate II, Fig. 9, lacks the keel, but the shell can 
be distinguished from the next species by its deeper 
whorls and narrow umbilicus. Found in the Colum- 
bia, Klamath, Utah, Nevada, and Coast Range 
Systems in streams and lakes. 

Planorbis parvus, Say, the Dwarf Planorbis, PL 
II, Fig. 11, is about the same size as the last but 
is saucer-shaped, has very compressed whorls, and a 
broad umbilicus. Found among algse and roots in 
streams and lakes over North America, north of 
Mexico. 

(Ancylid<z) 

Ancylus (Lanx) patelloides, Lea, the Mottled 
River-limpet, PI. II, Fig. 1, (including L. altus and 
A. nezvberryi) is elliptical with a moderately ele- 
vated, nearly central apex. It is albino, reddish- 
brown, or with radiating markings within. Lives 
on rocks and other shells in rapid streams and lakes 
in the Klamath System. 

Ancylus fragilis, Tryon, the Fragile River-limpet, 




SHELLS OF LAKES AND STREAMS 311 

PL II, Fig. 2, is a very small species living on stems 
of water plants in the Coast Range System. It is 
elliptical, black, and has a high apex at one end. 
A distorted second year growth has been called 
Gundlachia calif ornica. 

Ancylus caurinus, Cooper, PL II, Fig. 3, is a 
small, elliptical species living in the Columbia Sys- 
tem. It has been confused with the last but the 
apex is not so high and is more central; color light 
or dark, shell glossy. 

Newberry's Keel-shell, Carinifex new- 
berryi, Lea, Figure 294, is a peculiar Plan- 
orbis-like species related to the next. It 
has a nearly flat spire with flat topped Fi e- 294 - x i 
whorls, keeled at the edge. The aperture 
is triangular and the umbilicus funnel-shaped. It 
grows to over twice the size of the figure. Lives in 
lakes and streams in the Utah, Nevada, and Kla- 
math Systems. 

The Puff-bubble, Pompholyx effusa, Lea, PL II, 
Fig. 4, has a thin shell, very low spire, closed or 
nearly closed umbilicus and is not carinate. It has 
several doubtful varieties which are probably physi- 
ological. Inhabits streams and lakes in the Colum- 
bia, Klamath, Utah, and Nevada Systems. 

{Physide) 

The genus Physa is one of the most puzzling 
of our shells. A great many species have been de- 
scribed, and a number are usually recognized. The 
writer has recently studied a large series o\ specimens 
from all over the United States and has decided 




312 WEST COAST SHELLS 

that there is but one species, Physa heterostropha, 
Say, the American Pocket-shell, Fig. 295, which 
has slightly impressed sutures and a 
curved pillar. In the south it is re- 
placed by P. k. seal cms, Haldeman, 
the Southern Physa, PI. Ill, Fig. 17, 
which has a straight pillar and im- 

Fig. 295 & r 

pressed sutures. There are a great 
many forms some of which are shown in PI. I, Fig. 
5, and PL III, Fig. 16, 18. They are due to physi- 
ological causes. In general specimens from streams 
are slender, while those from lakes usually have a 
shorter spire and more inflated whorls. They are 
also liable to be distorted and develop shouldering, 
irregularities of the whorls, and vertical costse. The 
thickness of the shell varies a great deal, for it 
depends on whether the snail obtains sufficient lime. 
This species is found from Alaska to Central Mexico. 
Heterostropha is found in the Columbia, Colorado, 
Utah, Nevada and Klamath Systems, while osculans 
occurs in the Colorado, Utah, Nevada, and Klamath 
Systems, and farther south. Occasionally specimens 
of each are found beyond their range. 

Aplexa hypnorum, Linne, the Moss Physa, Fig- 
ure 296, differs from the true Physas mostly 
in anatomy. The shell is heavy and glossy, 
with the spire equal in length to the aper- 
ture, and the sutures not impressed. This 
is a boreal species, occurring in Eurasia and 
Canada and the Columbia, Utah, and 
Colorado Systems. Fig. 296 




PLATE I. 

Fig. 1. Pisidium abditum, Haldeman, (x 2), Readville, 
Mass., p. 306. 

Fig. 2. Pisidium compressum, Prime, (x 2), Mohawk, N. Y., 
p. 306. 

Fig. 3. Musculium raymondi, J. B. Cooper, (x 2), Likely, 
Pitt River Valley, Cal, p. 306. 

Fig. 4. Margaritana margaritifera, Linne, (x 2 /z), San Lo- 
renzo River, Felton, Cal. p. 301. 

Fig. 5. Musculium partumcium, Say, (x 2), Staten Island, 
N. Y., p. 305. 

Fig. 6. Physa heterostropha, Say, (form known as P. lordi), 
(X 1), Chelsea, Quebec Province, Canada, p. 312. 



"> 



> 



i 




^B V 



PLATE I 



PLATE II. 

Fig. 1. Ancylus (Lanx) patelloides, Lea, (x 1), Pitt River 
above Copper City, Cal. p. 310. 

Fig. 2. Ancylus fragilis, Tryon, (x 2), San Francisquito 
Creek, Stanford University, Cal., p. 310. 

Fig. 3. Ancylus caninus, W. Cooper, (x 2), Umpqua River, 
Elkton, Ore., p. 311. 

Fig. 4. Pompholyx ct'fusa, Lea, (x 1), Link River, Klamath 
Falls, Ore., p. 311. 

Fig. 5. Sphccrium dcntatum, Hald., (x 1), Susan Creek, 
Honey Lake Valley, Cal., p. 305. 

Fig. 6. Valvata humeralis, Say, (x 2), Dewitte, Honey 
Lake Valley, Cal., p. ,316. 

Fig. 7. Anodonta cygnca, Linne, (x 1), Dalles, Columbia 
River, Ore., p. 302. 

Fig. 8. Planorbis opcrcularis, Gould, (x 2), Mountain Lake, 
San Francisco, Cal., p. 309. 

Fig. 9. Planorbis opcrcularis var. ccutcrzillcnsis, Tryon, 
(x 2), San Filipe, San Benito Valley, Cal., p. 310. 

Fig. 10. Planorbis opcrcularis var. planulatus. Cooper, (x 2), 
Freeport, Wash., p. 310. 

Fig. 11. Planorbis parvus, Say, (x 1), Artesian Belt near 
San Jose, Cal., p. 310. 

Fig. 12. Planorbis opcrcularis, Gould, (x 2), Mountain Lake, 
San Francisco, Cal., p. 310. 



!i. 






ft 



\ 



# 



t 



11 



PLATE II 



« 



PLATE III. 

Fig. 1. Lymncca cubensis bulimoides. Lea, (x 3 / 2 )> Berke- 
ley, Cal., p. 309. 

Fig. 2. Lymncca cubensis var. cocker elli, Pilsbry, (x 3 / 2 ), 
Lake on Cinder Cone, Susanville Road, Lassen National Forest, 
Cal., p. 309. 

Fig. 3. Lymncca cubensis var. bryanti, Baker, (x 3 / 2 ), Bards- 
dale, Santa Clara River Valley, Cal., p. 309. 

Fig. 4. Lymncca cubensis, Pfeiffer, (x 3 / 2 ), Bardsdale. Cal., 
p. 308. 

Fig. 5. Lymncca cubensis var. sonomaensis, Pilsbry, (x 3 / 2 ), 
( immature specimen) near Paine's Creek, Rocky Plains, Cal., 
p. 309. 

Fig. 6. Lymncca cubensis var. sancti-josephi, Hannibal, 
(x 2 / 3 ) (type), Artesian Belt, near San Jose, Cal., p. 309. 

Fig. 7. Lymncca obrussa. Say, (x 3 / 2 ), Wrights, Santa Cruz 
Mts, Cal., p. 308. 

Fig. 8. Vivipara mallcatus. Reeve, (x 1), Artesian Belt, 
Cal., p. 317. 

Fig. 9. Goniobasis plicifera, Lea, (physiological form called 
G. acutiiilosa) (x 1), Springs, upper Willow Creek, near Eagle 
Lake, Cal., p. 313. 

Fig. 10. Goniobasis plicifera, Lea, (normal form) (x 1), 
Paine's Creek, Rocky Plains, Cal., p. 313. 

Fig. 11. Paludestrina longinqua, Gould, (x2), old gold 
mines, Cuyamaca Mts., Cal., p. 314. 

Fig. 12. Flumnicola scmiualis. Hinds, (xl), Klamath River, 
Keno, Ore., p. 315. 

Fig. 13. Amnicola micrococcus, Pilsbry. (x 2). Fletcher's 
Spring, near Goose Lake, Cal., p. 314. 

Fig. 14, 15. Paludestrina protea, Gould, (X 2) (Fig. 14 
normal), Indio. Colorado Desert, Cal.. p. 315. 

Fig. 16. Physa heterostropha osculans, llalu. (physiologi- 
cal form called P. humerosa) (x \), [ndio, Colorado Desert, 
Cal., p. 312. 

Fig. 17. Physa heterostropha osculans, llaKl. (normal 
form) (\ 1) ditches, Artesian Belt, near San Jose. Cal.. p. 312. 

Fig. 18. Physa heterostropha osculans, Maid., (lake form) 
(x 1), Ontario. Cal. p. 312. 




♦ , I, 



14 15 



17 
PLATE III 




SHELLS OF LAKES AND STREAMS 313 

THE BROOK SHELLS 

(Fleurocerid<z) 

This group, distantly related to the Cerithiums of 
the ocean, is found only in North America. Their 
great center is in the Tennessee and Alabama River 
Systems where several genera and a great number 
of species are found. One genus, Goniobasis, is 
represented by two species on the Pacific Slope, of 
which one is common and widespread. 

Goniobasis plicifera, Lea, the Western Brook- 
shell, PI. Ill, Fig. 10, is rather thin, slender, green, 
brown, or black, with shallow sutures. When per- 
fect it is nearly two inches in length, but the spire 
is nearly always gone and the hole plugged up so 
it has quite a stumpy appearance. In the normal 
form the shell has smooth rounded whorls, but there 
are a number of forms decidedly different in appear- 
ance which have long passed as distinct species. All 
of these the writer has found to be abnormal, due 
to the presence of certain mineral salts in the 
water in which they live; the different 
forms being due to different salt constitu- 
ents. Two of the most striking are figured 
in Figure 297, and PI. Ill, Fig. 9. There 
are several others. This species includes 
G. bulbosa, G. rubiginosa, G. acutifilosa^ 
G. nigrina, G. draytoni, G. circumlineata, 
G. occata, and several others. 

G. plicifera lives in swift streams and springs in 
the Columbia and Klamath Systems. Professor 
Keep says, "Their inhabitants are dark-skinned. 




314 WEST COAST SHELLS 

happy creatures that love to live in cool, clear 
water, where the green algae grow and the banks 
are edged with ferns and water-weeds. I gath- 
ered them in abundance from a little stream of 
most delicious water that bursts out from the base 
of a dry hill, just north of the village of Sisson in 
northern California. Evidently there are concealed 
passages leading from the dry hill up to the great 
snow-fields on the flanks of Mount Shasta, for after 
you have climbed far up beyond the timber-line and 
are walking over the great expanses of white you 
can hear the gurgling of little streams under )^our 
feet and you know that the melting drifts are sinking 
down into the bosom of the mountain to reappear 
among the groves and meadows that mark the boun- 
daries of the Upper Sacramento." 

THE LAKE AND FLOOD SHELLS 

(Amnicolidg) 

These tiny fellows are operculate as are also the 
Pleuroceridse and succeeding families. They have 
a closed or nearly closed umbilicus and are usually 
greenish or brownish. Some live in streams and 
some in lakes and springs. 

Amnicola micrococcus, Pilsbry, the Desert Amni- 
cola, PI. Ill, Fig. 13, is a small species of the desert 
region. It has a chunky green-brown shell with 
inflated whorls and a closed umbilicus. It is about 
the size of a capital O. Found in springs in the 
Nevada System. 

Paludestrina longinqua, Gould, the Western Palu- 
destrina, PL III, Fig. 11, is about the size of a 



SHELLS OF LAKES AND STREAMS 315 

small o and has a more elevated spire than the pre- 
ceding; sutures impressed. It lives in springs, lakes 
and mountain streams in the Klamath, Nevada, 
Utah, Coast Range, Los Angeles and Arizona Sys- 
tems. P. stearnsiana and imitator are identical. 
They were founded on live specimens while P. lon- 
ginqua was described from bleached specimens from 
the Colorado Desert, possibly distorted by alkali 
waters. 

Paludestrina protect, Gould, the Variable Palu- 
destrina, PI. Ill, Figs. 14 and 15, is well named. 
It is about the same size but always more slender 
than the last, sometimes attenuate. It is normally 
smooth, but forms from alkaline springs and lakes 
are often spirally ridged, vertically plaited or both. 
On the Colorado Desert in Southern California, the 
white bleached shells of this species blow before the 
wind in countless millions. In former times this 
desert was the bed of a large lake. The species must 
have swarmed in it. Found in lakes and hot springs 
in the Utah, Nevada, and Arizona Systems, also 
Mexico and New Mexico. 

The Tawny Flood-shell, Fluminicola 
fusca, Hald., Figure 298, is about the size 
of a pea. It has a short spire and the 
shell is quite solid and a dark bluish black. ^^ 298 
Found in streams in the Utah System. 

Fluminicola seminalis, Hinds, the Brown Flood- 
shell, PI. Ill, Fig. 12, is a thinner green-brown spe- 
cies found in similar situations in the Klamath 
System. It has a more elevated spirt 1 . 

Figure 299 represents Fluminicola nuttalliana, 



316 WEST COAST SHELLS 

Lea, Nuttall's Flood-shell. It is a more 
slender species than either of the pre- 
ceding; yellow-brown or dark colored. 
Habitat similar; found in the Columbia 
System. 



Fig. 299 



THE VALVE SHELLS 

( Valvatidg ) 

This group contains the single genus Valvata. 
They have small, umbilicate shells with rounded or 
angular whorls of a green, pellucid, or brown color 
and live in lakes and ponds. 

Valvata virens, Tryon, the Green Val- 
vata, Figure 300, is a species found in the 
Coast Range System. It is light to dark 
green with a fairly high spire and a deep 
rather narrow umbilicus. The whorls are 
rounded and smooth. 

Valvata humeralis, Say, the Western Valvata, 
PI. II, Fig. 6, is blue-green or brown. It is smooth, 
somewhat flattened beneath, has a broad umbilicus 
and a flat-topped somewhat elevated spire. Found 
all over the West Coast and in Mexico. According 
to Dr. Pilsbry the form on the Pacific Coast south 
to Sonora should be known as Valvata humeralis 
calif ornica, Pils. 

THE VIVIPAROUS SHELLS 

(Viviparidcz) 

This group of large shells is not native on the 
Pacific Slope, but is found in the Eastern States 
and Eurasia, and one species has been introduced. 



SHELLS OF LAKES AND STREAMS 317 

The young are born alive as in the Sphseridse instead 
of developing from eggs. 

Vivipara malleatus, Reeve, the Four-lined Vivi- 
para, or Japanese Rice-snail, PL III, Fig. 8, is a 
large species which has been planted for food, 
at many places where there are Asiatic settlements 
on the Coast. Its flourishing progeny are by birth 
American citizens, and so we must consider them. 
The shell has green or brown inflated whorls, marked 
by four revolving lines of minute punctures, two 
above, one at, and one below the suture. In juvenile 
specimens the whorls are carinate but in adults they 
are rounded. It is known so far in ditches and 
streams in the Coast Range System but has been 
reported from the markets of Victoria, B. C. Japan. 

FALSE SHELLS 

Among the material gathered by young collectors 
are often small bivalve Crustacea, Phyllopods and 
Copepods which when dead greatly resemble Sphoeri- 
dse. To see them swimming around when alive will 
soon convince one they are not mollusks. The shells 
are very thin and made of chitin which will burn 
readily. This is a simple way to distinguish them. 
Caddice-fly larvaf often make spiral nests of sand 
grains. The great Doctor Lea once described one 
of these as Valvata arenifcra. 

This closes the descriptions of the most puzzling 
of our West American shells. To some the) may 
not be of interest because the) arc so plain, so vari- 
able, so near at hand, and so little known; but to 



318 WEST COAST SHELLS 

those who have the true scientific spirit they are just 
as interesting as the marine and land forms and 
more is to be learned about them. The writer will 
be glad to undertake to identify material sent to him 
at Stanford University, Cal. 

Plate I is from drawings by the writer. Plates 
II and III are from photographs by Mr. John 
Howard Paine, who made a number of fine concho- 
logical finds while dredging in San Pedro Harbor. 
They speak for themselves. The writer would ac- 
knowledge his indebtedness to Professor Keep for 
the privilege of contributing to his excellent book. 



BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX 



Adams, Arthur (A. Ad.). A distinguished 
English student and writer. One of the authors of 
the celebrated work on "Genera of Recent Mol- 
lusca," published about fifty years ago. 

Adams, Prof. Charles B. (C. B. Ad.). 1814- 
1863. Professor of Natural History in Amherst Col- 
lege, Mass. He was an extraordinary worker, and 
collected a very fine cabinet of shells, still preserved 
at that college. He wrote chiefly on the shells of 
Panama, which region he carefully explored. 

Arnold, Ralph, 1875 — . A California geologist 
who has written extensively on fossil and recent 
shells. 

Bartsch, Paul, 1871 — . A writer upon modern 
shells, mostly the smaller species. He is connected 
with the National Museum at Washington, D. C. 

Binney, Amos, 1803-1847. He was a native of 
Boston, but died in Rome. He was a successful 
merchant and an ardent lover of nature. He wrote 
chiefly on the Land Shells of the United States, and 
left money for the publication and distribution of his 
unfinished works, which were completed by Dr. 
Gould. 

Binney, W. G., (W. G. B.). Son of the above, 
and author of a volume on "American Land 
Shells." 



320 BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX 

Bland, Thomas. A naturalist of New York, 
who gave much attention to species of land mol- 
lusks. 

Broderip, Wm. J., (Brod.). An English natural- 
ist who published several popular works on Zoology, 
from 1847 to 1857. 

Button, Fred. L., 1856 — . An Oakland, Cal., 
lawyer, who is much interested in Conchology, and 
who has a very fine cabinet of shells. 

Carpenter, Philip P., (Cpr.) 1819-1877. A 
very distinguished English conchologist who spent 
considerable time in America. He studied the shells 
of the West Coast, and made careful reports to the 
British Association, one of which was reprinted by 
the Smithsonian Institution in 1872. 

Chemnitz, (Chem.). A German naturalist of 
the 18th century. 

Cockerell, T. D. A., 1866 — . An enthusiastic 
naturalist; born in England; now a professor in the 
University of Colorado. 

Conrad, Timothy A., 1803-1877. A dis- 
tinguished American writer upon recent and fossil 
shells. He was born in New Jersey. 

Cooper, Dr. J. G., 1831-1902. A noted Cali- 
fornia conchologist and writer who made a particu- 
lar study of land mollusks. 

Dall, Wm.H., 1845 — . One of the foremost of 
American naturalists. He has long been at the 
head of the Department of Mollusks in the U. S. 
National Museum. 

Deshayes, Gerard P., (Desh.), 1796-1875. A 



BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX 321 

French naturalist whose publications date from 1835 
onward. 

Dixon, Capt. Geo. An English sea captain, 
who published in 1789 an account of his voyage 
around the world. 

D'Orbigny, (D'Orb.), 1802-1857. A French 
naturalist and writer upon mollusks. 

Donovan, Edward, (Don.). A very volumi- 
nous English writer on insects, shells, etc. He 
lived in the early part of the last century. 

Draparnaud, Prof. Jacques, (Drap.), 1772- 
1806. His writings were chiefly upon the land and 
fresh-water mollusks of France. 

Duclos, (Duel.). A French naturalist who flour- 
ished in the middle of the 19th century. 

Eschscholtz, (Esch.). The distinguished nat- 
uralist who accompanied the Russian explorer, Otto 
von Kotzebue, from 1815 to 1826. He visited this 
coast and collected valuable scientific material. 

Forbes, Prof. Edward, (Fbs.), 1815-1854. An 
English scholar and writer. With Hanley, he pub- 
lished in 1853 the "History of British Mollusks." 

Ga bb, W. M., 1839-1878. A noted American 
naturalist; at one time paleontologist for the Cali- 
fornia State Geological Survey. 

Gmelin, Johann F., (Gmel.), 1709-1755. A 
German professor at Tubingen. He edited an edi- 
tion of Linne's Systema Natura. 

Gould, Dr. A. A., (GUI.), 1805-1866. He was 
a native of New Hampshire, bur spent most of his 
lite in Boston, in the practice of his profession, yet 



322 BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX 

he found time to write much upon Natural History, 
particularly upon mollusks. His advice to a young 
naturalist who had more enthusiasm than riches is 
full of golden thoughts: "You must go ahead and 
earn your living, and use your leisure for study, 
as I have done, only don't wait for the leisure to be 
greater; do something, if but little every day; other- 
wise, when wealth or age give you greater leisure, 
your interest will have faded and your opportunity 
will be gone." 

Gray, John E., 1800-1875. For nearly fifty 
years he was connected with the British Museum, 
and finally became its keeper. He wrote valuable 
catalogues of the same. 

Haldeman, Prof. S. S., (Hald.). Born in 
Penn. in 1812. He became a distinguished writer 
and teacher. His writings on mollusks refer chiefly 
to fresh-water species. He wrote also upon philol- 
ogy- 

Hanley, Sylvanus, (Hani.). An English nat- 
uralist, associated with Prof. Forbes. 

Hemphill, Henry, 1830 — . A student and col- 
lector of mollusks, particularly of this coast and of 
Florida. He has probably collected more speci- 
mens than any other man now living. He is spend- 
ing his old age with his daughter, in Oakland. 

Hinds, Richard B., (Hds.). The English nat- 
uralist, who accompanied Sir Edward Belcher on 
his voyage round the world, in "H. M. S. Sulphur," 
from 1836 to 1842. 

Ingersoll, Ernest. Naturalist of the U. S. 



BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX 323 

Geological Survey of the Territories, under Prof. 
Hayden. 

Lea, Isaac, LL. D., 1792-1886. Dr. Lea's an- 
cestors came over from England with William 
Penn. Most of his life was spent in Philadelphia, 
where he was connected with a large publishing 
house. His writings are very voluminous, relating 
chiefly to the Unionida, or River Mussels. 

Leach, Dr. Wm. E. Curator of the Natural 
History Department of the British Museum, during 
the early part of the last century. 

Linne, or Linnaeus, Carl von, (Linn.), 1707- 
1778. The great Swedish naturalist and author of 
the modern system of scientific nomenclature. His 
early life was full of difficulties, but when he became 
professor of Botany at the University of Upsal, his 
department soon became filled with eager students. 
He wrote many valuable works, and received great 
honors. 

MacFarland, Frank M., 1869 — . A profes- 
sor in Stanford University, whose special work upon 
mollusks is with the sea-slugs, or Nudibranchs. 

Meek, F. B., 1817-1876. A naturalist whose 
work was largely with fossil shells, especially those 
of California. 

Merriam, Prof. John C, 1869 — . A dis- 
tinguished geologist and teacher, connected with the 
University of California. His special work is with 
vertebrate fossils. 

Middendorf, Dr. A. I'll. v.. (MidcL), 1815- 
1894. An earl)' scientific writer upon the shells 



324 BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX 

of this coast. His reports were published in St. 
Petersburg, from 1847 onward. 

Morch, Otto A. L., 1828-1878. Part of his 
writings, on the Vermetidcz, were published in Lon- 
don in 1861. 

Morse, Prof. Edward S. A distinguished 
Eastern writer upon Zoology. He was born in 
Maine, in 1838. 

Newcomb, Dr. Wesley, (Newc.), 1808-1892. 
An American naturalist and collector of one of the 
finest cabinets of shells in the country. It is now 
at Cornell University. He once lived and explored 
in the Hawaiian Islands and in California. 

Nuttall, Prof. Thos., (Nutt.), 1786-1859. 
His birth and death both occurred in England, but 
he spent most of his life in America, being Professor 
of Natural History in Harvard College from 1822 
to 1834. Many shells were named for him by his 
contemporary, Timothy A. Conrad. 

Oldroyd, Mr. and Mrs. T. S. Noted concholog- 
ical collectors and students, living at Long Beach, 
Cal. Their beautiful collection of shells will be 
permanently located in Los Angeles. 

Orcutt, Chas. R. A naturalist and writer, who 
has studied extensively in the vicinity of San Diego 
and northern Mexico. 

Pfeiffer, Louis, (Pfr.). A German concholo- 
gist of note, author of numerous works published 
from 1847 onward. 

Philippi, R. A., 1808-1904. Another German 
naturalist, who lived to a great age. 



BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX 325 

Pilsbry, Henry A., 1862 — . An eminent 
conchologist, connected with the Academy of Na- 
tural Sciences in Philadelphia, and living author of 
the "Manual of Conchology," which was begun by 
Tryon. 

Prime, Temple. An American naturalist who 
studied the smaller fresh-water bivalve mollusks. 
His chief work was published by the Smithsonian 
Institution in i860. 

Raymond, Prof. Wm. J., 1865 — . A teacher 
of Physics in the University of California, who is 
also an authority on the mollusks of this coast. 

Reeve, Lovell A., (Rve.), 1808-1865. A Lon- 
don author and publisher of extensive and beautiful 
conchological works. 

Rowell, Rev. Joseph. An aged clergyman of 
San Francisco, who has described several new 
species, and who has collected a fine cabinet of shells. 

Say, Thomas, 1787-1843. One of the earliest 
and most distinguished of American naturalists, a 
native of Philadelphia. His work had a most health- 
ful influence on the cause of scientific investigation. 

Stearns, Robt. E. C, 1827-1909. A noted 
conchologist, spending his early life in Boston, but 
most of his mature years in California. He wrote 
many articles upon shells, and continued his interest 
in the subject to the close of his life. 

Sowerby, Geo. B., (Sby. orSowb.). Three genera- 
tions of English conchologists and conchological ar- 
tists bore this name. The) were born respectively 
in 1783, 1812, and 184 V 



326 BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX 

Swainson, William. An English naturalist, 
author of "Exotic Conchology," published in Lon- 
don, 1821-1835. 

Tryon, Geo. W. Jr., 1838-1888. An American 
conchologist, author of the first few volumes of the 
' 'Manual of Conchology," and of other important 
works. He lived in Philadelphia, and was a 
prominent member of the Academy of Natural 
Sciences. 

Valenciennes, (Val.). A French naturalist, 
living during the first half of the last century. 

Wood, William. A London author and Natural 
History book-seller. He published many books on 
shells, from 1818 onward. 



GLOSSARY 

Page 

Adductor, a muscle to draw shells together ... 22 

Aperture, the opening of a univalve shell 119 

Bivalve, a mollusk with two shells 20 

Brachiopod, a peculiar animal with two shells, 

sometimes classed with the mollusks 13 

Branchial, relating to the gills 124 

Byssus, a bundle of fibers, for anchoring, 38 

Canal, the channel or tube of a shell 119 

Carniverous, flesh-eating, like the Murex 1 19 

Chiton (ki-ton), a flat mollusk having eight 

shells 253 

Columella, the central post of a shell 1 19 

Coralline, a small, stony seaweed, resembling 

coral 7 

Cordate, heart-shaped, like the Cardium 72 

Coriaceous, tough and leathery 299 

Corrugated, marked with ridges 16; 

Crenulated, marked with small scallops 2^1 

Dextral, opening on the right side 119 

Epidermis, the outside coating of a shell 23 

Escutcheon, the depression behind the beaks 

of certain bivalves So 

Formaldehyde, a preservative fluid 141 

Fusiform, spindle-shaped, pointed at both ends. 1 H) 

Gasteropod, a snail-like mollusk 1 iS 

Genus, a group of similar species Oo 



328 GLOSSARY 

Page 

Globose, round and full, like a globe 5^ 

Glochidium, the young stage of a river-mussel . 301 
Growth-striae, lines of growth on the shell . . . 265 
Herbiverous, vegetable-eating, like the com- 
mon snail 119 

Hinge-teeth, interlocking projections on cer- 
tain bivalve shells 22 

Holdfast, the root-like parts of a seaweed. . . .101 
Iridescent, showing the colors of the rainbow. 224 
Ligament, the elastic tissue at the hinge, which 

holds bivalve shells together 22 

Lunule, a heart-shaped depression 22 

Mollusk, one of a great class of invertebrate 

animals 9 

Nacre, iridescent shell, like mother-of-pearl . . . 232 
Nullipore, a kind of small, stony seaweed. . . .219 

Nudibranch, a mollusk with naked gills 123 

Operculum, the door of a univalve shell .212 

Pallium, the skin, or mantle, of a mollusk. ... 21 
Pelecypod, a bivalve mollusk, with ribbon-like 

gills, a lamellibranch 20 

Periostracum, the outer coating of a shell .... 23 

Peristome, the rim of a shell's aperture 287 

Reticulated, marked with net-work 129 

Rhinophores, certain sense-organs, probably of 

smell 125 

Serrations, ridges resembling saw-teeth 41 

Sinistral, opening on the left side 264. 

Sinus, and inward curve, or bay 23 

Siphon, the breathing tube of a mollusk 21 

Species, a distinct type of organisms 14 



GLOSSARY 329 

Page 

Spheroidal, somewhat like a sphere 283 

Striae, fine parallel lines or furrows 144 

Suture, the angular meeting line of two whorls. 119 

Tentacles, the two feelers of a mollusk 125 

Umbilicus, the hole round which the whorls of 

a univalve shell revolve 119 

Umbo, the beak of a bivalve shell . . 22 

Univalve, a mollusk with one shell 118 

Variety, a subdivision of a species 283 

Varix, a periodically formed ridge or variation. 191 

Ventricose, swollen, well developed 97 

Wampum, shell-money, used by the Indians. . . 126 
Whorl, one complete turn around a shell 1 19 



APPENDIX 



Note. This Alphabetical List contains the 
names of small or uncommon shells which occur on 
this Coast, most of which are not described in this 
edition of West Coast Shells. It was chiefly com- 
piled by Mrs. Ida S. Oldroyd. 
Acanthochiton diegensis, Pils. 
Acm<za patina, var. nuttallina 

ochracea, Dall. 

pintadina, Gld. 

scutum, Esch. 
Acm&a pelt a, var. elevata 

cassis, Esch. 

hybrida, Hemphill 

nacelloides, Dall. 
Acm<za scabra, var. limatula, Cpr. 

morchii, Dall 

picta, Hemphill 
Action painei, Dall 
Adeomelon stearnsii, Dall 
Ms opus myrmecoon, Dall. 
Alabina calif or nica, Dall and Bartsch 
cerithoidea, Dall 
tenuisculpta, Cpr. 

tenuiscul pta, var. diegensis^ Bartsch 
Alexia setifer, Cpr. 
Alva nia purpurea, Dall 
Ampliisphyra subquadrata^ Cpr. 



332 APPENDIX 

Amphithalamus inclusus, Cpr. 
Ancylus newberryi 
Asthenotherus villosior, Cpr. 
Bythinella nuclea, Lea 
Bittium acicula, Stimp. 

armillatum, var. ornatissimum, Bartsch 
esuriens, var. multifilosa, Bartsch 
fortior, Cpr. 

munitum, var. munitoides, Bartsch 
oldroydii, Bartsch 
Boreotrophon bentleyi, Dall 
C<zcum coo peri, Cpr. 

hemphilli, Stearns 
magnum, Stearns 
Callistochiton decoratus, Cpr. 
Cerithiopsis carpenteri, Bartsch 
connexa, Cpr. 
cos mm, Bartsch 
me tax a, Cooper 
pedroana, Bartsch 
stephansi, Bartsch 
Cardium fucanum, Dall 
Circinaria transfuga, Hemp. 

affinis, Dall 
Clathurella canfieldi, Dall 

sculpta, Dall 
Clistaxis polystrigma, Dall 
Columbella carinata, var. hindsii, Rve. 

petravis, Dall 
Conulus fulvus, Miiller 
Crassatella fluctuata, Cpr. 



APPENDIX 333 



Crenella afflnis,T)all 

Crepidula nivea, var. glottidiarum, Dall 
Cryptobranchia concentrica, Midd. 
Cuspid aria obesa, Lov. 

pectinata, Cpr. 

striata, Jeff. 
Cyclostrema diegensis, Bartsch 
Cyctostremelta catifornica, Bartsch 
Cyt'hara densistriosa, Cpr. 
fusconotata, Cpr. 
Daphnella fuscoligata, Dall 
Dentalium car pent erianum, Dall 

megathyris, Dall 

valicotens, Raymond 
Diaphana califomica, Dall 
Discinisca strigata, Brod. 
Epitoniu?n acrostephanus, Dall 

catatincz, Dall 
Erato mangerig, Mke. 
Euli?na towana, Dall 

randolphi, Van. 
solitaria, C.B.Ad. 
Gibbuta o ptabilis, Cpr. 
Gonio basis sit ic id a, Gld. 
Heticctla vcntricosa, Drap. 
Ischnochiton biarcuatus, Dall 
scabricosta, Cpr. 
Kenncrtia filosa, Cpr. 
Lacuna unifasciata, var. aurantica^ Cpr. 
hasaea rubra, var. subviridis* Cpr. 
AtvA/ cuncata, Hanlev 



334 APPENDIX 

Lepidopleurus nexus, Cpr. 

oldroydi, Bartsch 
Leptothyra paucicostata, var. rubra, Dall 
Lirnn&a atkana, Dall 

desidiosa, Say 
Lithophagus attenuatus, Desh. 
Littorina grandis, Midd. 
Liostraca varians, Sby. 
Lunatia draconis, Dall 

pallida, Brod. & Sby. 
Lyonsia inflata, Conr. 

nitida, Conr. 
Mangilia painei, Dall 

fancher<z, Dall 
Malletia californica, Dall 
Margarita lirulata, var. subelevata, Cpr. 

pupilla, var. salmonea, Cpr. 
Menetus opercularis, Gld. 
Metaxia diadema, Bartsch 
Mitra dolorosa, Dall 

lowei, Dall 
Micro physa ingersollii, Bland 
Miralda calif ornica, D. & B. 
Modiolus demissus, Dillwyn 
Mopalia imporcata, var. lowei, Bartsch 

m us cos a, var. acuta, Cpr. 
Murex painei, Dall 
Myoforceps aristatus, Dillwyn 
Odostomia atossa, Dall 

{Miralda) arm at a, Cpr. 
(Chrysallida) cincta, Cpr. 



APPENDIX 335 

oldroydi, D. & B. 

inflexa, D. & B. 
Parthenia quinquecincta, Cpr. 
Patula cronkhitei, Newc. 

chiricahuana, var. ashmuni, Dall 
Pedipes liratus, Binney 
Periploma sulcata, Dall 
Pec ten whiteavesi, Dall 
Physa sparsistriata, Tryon 
bardi 

trash, Tryon 
virgata, Gld. 
Pholadidea sagittata, Stearns 
Pisidium <zquilateratus, Prime 
Phasianella compta, var., producta, Cpr. 
Planorbis borealis 

deflectus, Say 
executus, Say 
oregonensis, Lea 
Polygyra sanborni 

devius, var. binominatus, Tryon 
blandi, Hemp. 
catus, Hemp. 
cognatus, Hemp. 
navadensis, Stearns 
Psephidia salmonca, Cpr. 
Pupa columbiana, Sterki 
Rissoina exilis, Tryon 

oldroydii, Dall 
Rocliefortia tumida, Cpr. 
Scissilabra dall/, Bartsch 



336 APPENDIX 

Seal a berryi, Dall 

clathratula, Ad. 
sawing, Dall 
Sella montereyensis, Bartsch 
Serridens oblongus, Cpr. 
Se?nele incongrua, Cpr. 
Siphonaria vernalis^ Dall 
Solariella unda, Dall 
Sphenia calif ornica, Conr. 
Spisula alaskana, Dall 
Styliferina acicula, Stimp. 

tenuisculpta, Cpr. 
Tackyrynckus californicus, Cpr. 
tferebratalia ob sol eta, Dall 
tfhracia plicata, Conrad 
Tomatina recta, D'Orb. 

Trachydermo/i fiectens, var. montereyensis, Bartsch 
Trie ho fro pis kelseyi, Dall 
Tritonofusus kelseyi, Dall 
Ti/rbo/jilla auricoma D. & B. 

crebrifiliata, Cpr. 

gracilior, C. B. Ad. 

lowei, D. & B. 

morclii, D. & B. 

kelseyi, D. & B. 

panamensis , C. B. Ad. 

serr<z, D. & B. 

stearnsii, D. & B. 

simpsoni, D. & B. 

temticula, Gld. 



APPENDIX 337 

^Lurris catalincz, Pvaymond 
diaulax Dall 
halcyonis, Dall 
r Junes, Dall 
Valvata mergella, Westerlund 
Vermetus squamigerus, var. pennatus, Morch 
Vitrea arborea, Say 
Vitrinella alaskensis, Bartsch 
berryi, Bartsch 
complanata, Cpr. 
stearnsi, Bartsch 
Toldia ensifera, var. plena, Dall 
Zonites lansingii, Bland 

shepardi, Hemphill 
stearnsii, Bland 



INDEX 



Acanthina 181 

engonata 181 

lapilloides 181 

lugubris 182 

spirata 182 

Acmsea 216 

asmi 218 

depicta 221 

incessa 220 

instabilis 221 

mitra 219 

paleacea 222 

patina 217 

pelta 217 

persona 218 

scabra 219 

spectrum ..... .216 

triangularis ...222 

Actaeon 120 

painei 120 

punctocselatus ..120 

Adula 37 

falcata 37 

stylina 38 

Alexia 128 

Amalthea 210 

antiquata 210 

cranioides 210 

tumcns 210 

Amiantis 77 

callosa 77 

Amicula 261 

pallasii 261 

Amnicola 314 

micrococcus . . .314 

Amphissa 165 

bicolor 166 

corrugata 165 

undata 165 

versicolor 165 

Ampullina 213 

purpurea 213 

Anaplocamus .... 199 



borealis 199 

Ancylus 310 

altus 310 

caurinus 311 

fragilis 310 

newberryi 310 

patelloides . . . .310 

Angulus 90 

obtusus 90 

Anisodoris 124 

nobilis 124 

Anodonra 302 

beringiana 303 

californiensis ..303 

cygnea 302 

impura 303 

nuttalliana . . . .303 
oregonesis . . . .302 
wahlametensis .303 

Anomia 54 

lampe 54 

peruviana 54 

Aphallarion 270 

buttoni 270 

Aplexa 312 

hypnorum 312 

Aplysia 123 

californica 123 

Area .. 29 

multicostata ... 29 

mutabilis 29 

reticulata 29 

Archidoris 124 

montereyensis . . 124 

Arctoscala" 184 

Argobuccinum . . 189 
oregonense .... 189 

Argonauta 296 

pacifica 296 

Ariolimax 270 

californicus . . . .270 
columbianus . . .-70 
hemphilli 271 



niger 270 

Ashmunella 290 

ashmuni 291 

chiricahuana . . .292 

levettei 292 

pseudodonta ...291 
rhyssa 290 

Astarte 60 

alaskensis 60 

esquimalti 61 

polaris 61 

vernicosa 61 

Astraea ^ 225 

insequalis 225 

undosa 225 

Atrina 30 

oldroydii 30 

Axinea 29 

intermedia .... 29 

Axinopsis 66 

sericatus 66 

viridis 66 

Axinus 65 

Bathytoma 131 

carpenteriana ..131 

gabbiana 1 32 

keepi 132 

stearnsiana .... 131 
trvoniana 131 

Bela 135 

Beringius 152 

crebricostauis . . 152 

frielei 153 

kennicottii 153 

Bifidaria 294 

armifera 294 

Binneya 271 

notabilis 271 

Bittium 195 

esuriens 195 

filosum 195 

quadrifilatum . . 195 

Boreotrophon ... 1 72 



340 



INuEX 



gracilis 172 

scitulus ....... 172 

stuarti 172 

Buccinum 147 

aleuticum 147 

angulatum 147 

castaneum 147 

percrassum .... 147 

plectrum 148 

tricarinatum . . . 148 
viridum 149 

Bulla 121 

gouldiana 122 

Cadulus 127 

aberrans 127 

hepburni 127 

quadrifissus . . . 127 
tolmiei 127 

Caecum 200 

californicum ...200 
crebricinctum . .200 

Callistochiton . . . .257 
crassicostatus . .257 

mirabilis 257 

palmulatus . . . .257 

Calliostoma 228 

annulatum . . . .228 
canaliculatum . .229 

costatum 229 

gemulatum ....230 

gloriosum 230 

platinum 232 

splendens 233 

supragranosum. . 230 

tricolor 231 

turbinum 232 

variegatum ... .231 

Calyptogena 58 

pacifica 58 

Calyptrsea 207 

mamillaris .... .207 

Cancellaria 136 

cooperi 136 

crawfordiana . . 137 
middendorffiana.l 37 

Capulus 200 

californicus . . .209 

Cardium 72 

biangulatum . . . 73 
blandum 73 



californiense . . 73 

ciliatum 73 

comoxense .... 73 

corbis 72 

elatum 74 

fucanum 73 

nuttalli 73 

pseudofossile . . 73 
quadrigenarium . 74 

Cardita 57 

subquadrata ... 57 

Carinifex 311 

newberryi 311 

Carychium 128 

exiguum 128 

occidental ....128 

Cavolinia 127 

tridentata 127 

Cerithidea 198 

californica . . . 198 
hyporhvssa .... 199 
pullata. 199 

Cerithiopsis 194 

purpurea 195 

tuberculata .... 194 

Cerostoma 170 

Chastopleura 256 

gemmea 256 

Chama 70 

exogyra 71 

pellucida 70 

spinosa 71 

Chione 79 

fluctifraga 80 

snccincta 80 

undatella 80 

Chlamydochr ncha. f° 
orcutti 62 

Chlorostoma . . . .234 

Chrysodomus ....120 

amiantus 149 

dims 149 

kellettii 150 

liratus 150 

magnus 151 

phceniceus 151 

Circinaria 265 

Clementia 81 

Clidiophora 112 

punctata 112 



Cochlicopa 292 

lubrica 292 

Columbella ...... 163 

aurantiaca 164 

carinata 163 

chrysalloidea . . 164 

gausapata 1 63 

permodesta .... 164 
tuberosa 164 

Conus 130 

californicus .... 130 

Cooperella 98 

scintillaeformis . . 98 
subdiaphana ... 98 

Corbula 98 

luteola 98 

Crassatella 61 

marginata 61 

Crenella 39 

decussata 39 

Crepidula 207 

aculeata 209 

adunca 207 

dorsata .........209 

lessonii 209 

navicelloides . . .207 

nivea 207 

onyx 207 

rugosa 207 

Crucibulum 206 

spinosum 206 

Cryptochiton . . . .261 
stelleri 261 

Crvptodon 65 

Cryptomya 100 

californica 100 

Cumingia 97 

californica 97 

Cylichna 121 

'alba 121 

Cymatium 189 

corrugatum ... 189 
tremperi 189 

C}-praea 192 

spadicea 192 

Cvtherea 78 

"fordi 78 

Dentalium 126 

indianorum . . . 126 
neohexagonum . 126 



INDEX 



341 



preciosum 126 

semip oli turn ... 126 
semistriatum . . 126 

Diplodonta 66 

aleutica 66 

orbella 66 

Donax 87 

californica 87 

levigata 87 

Dosinia 75 

ponderosa 75 

Drillia 134 

empyrosia 135 

incisa 135 

inermis 134 

mcesta 134 

penicillata 134 

torosa 134 

Ensis 105 

californicus .... 105 

Entodesma Ill 

inflata Ill 

saxicola Ill 

Epiphragmophora . 275 

arnheimi 286 

arrosa 282 

ayresiana 284 

buttoni 277 

cala 277 

californiensis . .283 

carpenteri 281 

circumcarmata .278 
coloradoensis ..281 
contracostse . . . 284 
diabloensis . . . .284 
dupetithouarsi ..279 

exarata 282 

facta 285 

fidelis 275 

gabbi 285 

hillebrandi ....111 

infumata 277 

intercisa 285 

kellettii ^86 

mormonum . . . 277 

nicliniana 283 

rufocincta -85 

ramentosa 284 

sequoicola 281 

stearnsiana . . .286 



traskii 281 

tryoni 286 

tudiculata 285 

umbilicata . . . .285 

Epitonium 182 

bellastriatum . . 184 

borealis 182 

crebricostatum . 184 

hindsii 183 

indi-anorum . . . 183 

Erato 194 

columbella ....194 
vitellina 194 

Erycina 62 

compressa 62 

rugifera 62 

Eulima 185 

distorta 185 

falcata 185 

incurva 185 

micans 185 

rutila 185 

yod 185 

Eunaticina 213 

oldroydii 213 

Ferussacia 292 

subcylindrica ..292 

Fissurella 249 

crucifera 250 

volcano 249 

Fissurellidsea ....252 

Fissuridea 250 

aspera 250 

murina 250 

Fluminicola 315 

fusca 315 

nuttalliana ....315 
seminalis 315 

Fossarus 206 

fenestrates . . . .206 
obtusus 206 

Frieleia 17 

halli 17 

Fusinus 144 

cinereus 145 

harfordi 146 

kobelti 144 

luteopictus .... 145 

Fusus 145 

Gadinia L29 



reticulata 129 

Galerus 207 

Gemma 84 

gemma 84 

purpurea 85 

Gibbula 234 

canfieldi 239 

parcipicta 234 

succincta 234 

Glottidea 19 

albida 19 

Glycymeris 29 

intermedia .... 29 

Glyptostoma ....287 
newberryanum. .287 

Gonidia 304 

angulata 304 

Goniobasis 313 

acutifilosa 313 

bulbosa 313 

circumlineata ..313 

draytoni 313 

nigrina 313 

occata 313 

plicifera 313 

rubiginosa 313 

Gundlachia 311 

californica 311 

Gyrinium 190 

californicnm . . .190 

Hatiotis 242 

assimilis 246 

corrugata 246 

cracherodii 245 

fulgens 242 

gigantea 247 

rufescens 244 

walallensis ... .2-14 

Halistylus 240 

pupoides 240 

Haminea 122 

vesicula 122 

virescens 123 

Helix 11} 

aspersa 2/4 

Hemphillia 271 

glandulosa ....271 

Heterodonax .... 88 
bimaculatus .... 88 

1 tinnites 43 



342 



INDEX 



Hipponyx 210 

Holospira 294 

arizonensis . . . .294 

Hopkinsia 126 

rosacea 126 

Uyanassa 162 

obsoleta 162 

Isapis 206 

Ischnochiton ....256 

conspicuus 256 

magdalenensis .256 

mertensii 256 

regularis 257 

Janthina 184 

exigua 184 

globosa 185 

Katherina 261 

tunicata 261 

Kellia 63 

laperousii 63 

suborbicularis .. 63 

Labiosa 107 

undulata 107 

Lacuna 205 

porrecta 205 

solidula 205 

unifasciata . . . .205 
variegata 206 

Lamellaria 214 

diegoensis 214 

stearnsii 214 

Lanx 310 

Laqueus 16 

californicus .... 16 
jeffreysii 17 

Lasea 64 

rubra 64 

Leda 26 

hamata 26 

taphria ........ 26 

Lepidopleurus ...254 
internexus ....254 
nexus 254 

Lepton 62 

rude 63 

Leptothyra 227 

baccula 227 

carpenteri 227 

Lima 49 

clehiscens 49 



Limopsis 30 

vaginata 30 

Liocyma 83 

scammoni 83 

viridis 83 

Liomesus 158 

canaliculars ..158 
nux 158 

Liotia ...240 

acuticostata ....240 

eschnauri 241 

oldroydi 240 

williamsoni ....240 

Lithophagus 38 

plumula 38 

Limax 266 

agrestis 266 

campestris ....267 
hewstoni 267 

Littorina 203 

aleiitica 204 

atkana 204 

planaxis 203 

pullata 204 

rudis 203 

scutulata 203 

sitchana 204 

Loligo 297 

Lucapina 251 

crenulata 251 

Lucapinella 251 

calliomarginata. 251 

Lucina 76 

acutilineata .... 69 

borealis 69 

filosa 69 

Lutricola 96 

Lymnaea 307 

bryanti 309 

bulimoides ....309 

caperata 308 

cockerelli 309 

cubensis 308 

obrussa 308 

palustris 307 

sancti-josephi ..309 
sonomaensis ...309 
stagnalis 307 

Lyonsia 109 

californica 109 



Lyonsiella 110 

alaskana 110 

Macoma 93 

balthica 94 

inconspicua .... 94 

indentata 94 

inflatula 94 

inquinata 94 

nasuta 94 

secta 95 

sitkana 95 

Macrocyclis 265 

Macron 156 

kellettii 156 

lividus 156 

Mactra 105 

californica 105 

dolabriformis . . 105 
nasuta 105 

Malletia 28 

faba r 28 

Margarites 233 

helicina 233 

lirulata 234 

pupilla 233 

vorticifera . . . .234 

Marginella 142 

jewettii 142 

varia 142 

Martesia 115 

intercallata .... 115 

Megatebennus ...252 
bimaculatus ...252 

Melampus 128 

olivaceus 128 

Metis 96 

alta 96 

Milneria 60 

minima 60 

Mitra 143 

fultoni 144 

idae 143 

lowei 144 

maura 143 

orientalis 144 

Mitromorpha .... 144 

aspera 144 

filosa 144 

Modiolaria 38 

taylori 38 



INDEX 



343 



verrucosa 38 

Modiolus . . 35 

capax 36 

flabellus 36 

fornicatus 36 

modiolus 35 

plicatulus 37 

Monia 53 

macroschisma . . 53 

Monoceros 181 

engonatum .... 181 

lapilloides 181 

lugubre 182 

Mopalia 258 

ciliata 260 

hindsii 259 

lignosa 259 

muscosa 258 

wosnessenskii ..260 

Murex 157 

carpenteri 167 

circumtexta . . . 168 

festivus 169 

foliatus 170 

incisus 169 

nuttallii 170 

petri 168 

trialatus 168 

Musculium 305 

abditum 305 

compressum ...305 
partumeium . .305 

raymondi 305 

rhykolti 305 

Mya 98 

arenaria 98 

hemphilli 99 

truncata 100 

Mysella 64 

aleutica 64 

Mvtilimeria 110 

nuttallii 110 

Mytilus 32 

bifurcatus 34 

californianus . . 32 

edulis 34 

glomeratus .... 34 
stearnsi 34 

Myurella 130 

simplex 130 



Nassa 159 

californiana ... 161 

cooperi 161 

fossata 159 

insculpta 160 

mendica 161 

perpinguis 161 

tegula 160 

Natica 213 

clausa 213 

Nerera 98 

pectinata 98 

Norrisia 227 

norrisii 227 

Nucula 24 

carlottensis .... 25 

castrensis 24 

exigua 26 

expansa 25 

lurida 25 

suprastriata .... 25 
tenuis 25 

Nuttallina 258 

californica 258 

scabra 258 

Ocinebra 173 

interfossa 173 

lurida 173 

michseli 175 

munda 174 

poulsoni 175 

Octopus 296 

Odostomia 186 

nuciformis .... 188 
pupiformis .... 188 
satura 188 

Olivella 138 

bretica 142 

biplicata 138 

intorta 142 

pedroana 142 

Ommastrephes ..297 

gigas 298 

tryoni 298 

Omphalitis 238 

fuscescens 238 

Onchidella 295 

borealis 295 

carpenteri 295 

Opalia 182 



Oreohelix 272 

castanea 273 

cooperi 273 

elrodi 273 

haydeni 272 

hemphilli 273 

idahoensis 273 

gouldi 273 

multicostata ...273 
strigosa 272 

Ostrea 55 

expansa 56 

lurida 55 

rufoides 56 

titan 55 

virginiana 56 

Ovula 193 

barbarensis .... 193 

deflexa 193 

variabilis 194 

Pachydesma 76 

crassatelloides .. 76 

Pachypoma 226 

Paludestrina . . . .314 

imitator 315 

longinqua 314 

protea 315 

stearnsiana ... .315 

Panopaea 101 

ampla 101 

generosa 101 

Paphia 82 

laciniata 82 

orbella 82 

petiti 82 

ruderata 82 

staminea S2 

tenerrima 82 

Parapholas 115 

californica 115 

Patuk < 273 

solitaria 273 

Pecten 39 

tequisulcatus ... 3^ 

caurinus 40 

circularis ^ 

davidsoni 42 

diegensis 40 

giganteus 43 

hastatus 41 



344 



INDEX 



hericeus 41 

latiauritus 41 

monotimeris .. 42 

randolphi 42 

rubidus 41 

vancouverensis . . 43 
ventricosus .... 43 

Pedicularia 191 

californica 191 

Pedipes 128 

unisulcatus .... 128 

Periploma 108 

discus 109 

planiscula 108 

Petricola 85 

carditoides .... 85 

Phacoides 68 

aequizonatus . . 67 
annulatus .... 68 
californicus .... 67 

nuttallii 68 

richthofeni .... 69 
lenuisculptus . . 69 

Phasianella 224 

compta 224 

Philobrya 31 

setosa 31 

Pholadidea 112 

darwinii 113 

ovoidea 113 

parva 113 

penita 112 

Pholas 112 

pacifica 112 

Physa 311 

heterostropha ..312 
osculans 312 

Phytia 128 

myosotis 128 

Pitaria 77 

newcombiana . . 77 

Placiphorella ....260 
velata 260 

Planorbis 309 

amnion 310 

centervillensis. 310 
opercularis . . . .309 

parvus 310 

planulatus 310 

trivolvis 309 



Platidea 15 

snominoides ... 15 

Platyodon 100 

cancellatus . . . .100 

Pleurobranchus . . 123 
californicus .... 123 

Pleurotoma 132 

Polygyra 287 

armigera 288 

columbiana . . . .288 

devia 288 

labiosa 288 

loricata 289 

mearnsii 289 

mullani 288 

ptychophora . . .287 
townsendiana ..287 

Polvnices 212 

iewisii 211 

recluziana 212 

Polypus 296 

punctatus , 296 

Pomaulax 225 

Pompholyx 311 

effusa 311 

Priene 189 

Pristoloma 269 

lansingi ........ 269 

stearnsi 269 

Protocardia 75 

centifilosa 75 

richardsonii ... .75 

Psammobia 86 

californica .... 86 
edentula 87 

Psephidia 84 

lordi 84 

oralis 84 

Psephis 75 

tantilla 75 

Functum 273 

conspectum . . . .273 

pasadenae 274 

randolphi 274 

Puncturella 248 

cooperi 248 

cuculata 248 

galeata 248 

major 248 

Pupa 293 



Purpura 171 

crispata 180 

foliata 1 70 

lima 180 

nuttallii 170 

saxicola 179 

Pyramidella 186 

j-damsi 187 

conica 187 

variegata 187 

Pyramidula 271 

asteriscus 271 

lineatus 271 

Ranella 190 

Sanguinolaria ... .89 
nuttallii 89 

Saxidomus 79 

giganteus 79 

nuttallii 79 

squalidus 79 

Saxicava 101 

arctica 101 

pholadis 101 

rugosa 101 

Scala 183 

Scalaria 184 

Scaphella 186 

arnheimi 186 

stearnsii ...... .186 

Schizoth?erus .... 108 
nuttallii 108 

Seila 196 

assimilis 196 

Selenites 264 

cselata 266 

duranti 265 

hemphilli 265 

keepi 264 

sportella 265 

vancouverensis 264 
voyana 265 

Semele 96 

californica 97 

decisa 96 

flavescens 97 

pulchra 97 

lubro-picta 97 

rupium 96 

Septifer .34 

bifurcatus 34 



INDEX 



345 



Serripes 74 

gronlandicus . . .74 

Sigaretus 213 

Siliqua 102 

alta 104 

lucida 104 

nuttallii 104 

patula 102 

Sinum 213 

debilis 213 

Siphonaria 128 

peltoides 128 

Solariella 238 

oxybasis 239 

peramabilis ....238 

Solemya 24 

johnsoni 24 

Solen^ 104 

rosaceus 104 

sicarius 104 

Sphaerium 305 

dentatum 305 

Spisula 106 

alaskana 106 

catilliformis . . . 106 

falcata 107 

hemphillii 106 

polymya 106 

Standella 106 

Strombella 154 

fragilis 154 

melonis 155 

middendorffi . . . 154 

Subemarginula ..248 
yatesii 248 

Succinea 294 

avara 295 

haydeni 294 

oregonensis ....295 

ovalis 294 

rustica 295 

Surcula 131 

carpenteriana ..131 

Tachyrynchus ...201 
tenuisculptus . .201 

Tagclns 88 

californianus . . .88 
subteres 89 

Tegula 234 

aureotincta . . . 237 



brunnea 236 

funebralis 235 

gallina 236 

ligulata 238 

montereyi 237 

pfeifferi 237 

pulligo 237 

subaperta 236 

tincta 236 

viridula 238 

Tellina 89 

bodegensis 89 

buttoni 90 

carpenteri 90 

idse 90 

lutea 91 

meropsis 91 

modesta 91 

salmonea 92 

santarosae 92 

Terebratalia 15 

occidentalis .... 15 
transversa 16 

Terebratulina .... 13 
caput-serpentis .13 
kiiensis 14 

Thais 179 

lamellosa 180 

lima 180 

saxicola 179 

Thaliota 233 

Thracia 108 

curta 108 

plicata 108 

undulata 108 

Thyasira 65 

barbarensis 65 

bisecta 65 

excavata 65 

Tivcla 76 

crassatclloidcs . .76 
stultorum 76 

Tornatina 120 

cerealis 121 

culcitella 120 

eximia 121 

liarpa 121 

Tonicella 254 

lineata 254 

marmorata . . . .255 



submarmorea ...255 

Trachydermon . . 255 
hartwegii 255 

Transenella 75 

tantilla 75 

Trichotropis .... 199 

borealis 199 

cancellata 199 

Triopha 125 

carpenteri 125 

maculata 125 

Triton 189 

corrugatum . . . 190 
gibbosus 190 

Tritonium 189 

Tritonofusus .... 135 
herendeeni .... 156 
rectirostris . . . .155 

Trivia ^ 193 

californica 193 

ritteri 193 

solandri 193 

Trophon 171 

belcheri 176 

multicostatus . . 172 

orpheus 172 

triangulatns . . . 171 

Truncatella 206 

californica . . . .206 

Turbonilla 186 

castanea 187 

Turcia 233 

caffea 233 

Turcicula 239 

bairdii 239 

Turris 132 

circinata 133 

incisa 134 

inermis^ 134 

ophiderma 134 

penicillata 134 

perversa K>2 

vinosa 133 

Turritella 201 

cooperi 201 

Turtonia 64 

minuta 64 

occidentalis 65 

l T rosalpinx 175 

cinereus 175 



346 



INDEX 



Vallonia 289 

costata 290 

pulchella 289 

Valvata 316 

californica 316 

humeralis 31 5 

vireirs 316 

Velutina 214 

laevigata 214 

Venericardia 58 

alaskana 59 

barbarense 59 

crassidens 59 

ventricosa 59 

Venerupis 84 

lamellifera 84 

Venus 75 

kennicottii 81 



mercenaria 81 

toreiima 78 

Vermetus 200 

lituella 200 

squamigerus . . .200 

Verticordia Ill 

novemcostata . Ill 
ornata Ill 

Vertigo 293 

californica 293 

Vitrea 267 

cellaria 267 

draparnaldi . . ..268 

Vitrina 267 

pfeifferi 267 

Vivipara 317 

arenifera 317 

maleatus 317 



Volutopsius 157 

attenuatus 157 

castaneus 157 

kobelti 157 

Volvula 121 

cylindrica 121 

Xylotria 116 

setacea 116 

stutchburrvi . . .117 

Yoldia 28 

cooperi 28 

montereyensis . .28 

Zirphsea 114 

crispata 114 

Zonites 267 

arboreus 268 

pugetensis 268 



Additional Note 



The Cephalopods of this coast are now being studied by 
S. S. Berry, of Stanford University, who will publish a 
report. He states, Dec, 1910, that there will probably be at 
least a dozen species. 

O'mmastrephes gigas, page 298, should be Dosidicus gigas, 
D'Orb. 



West Coast Shell 
Collection 

Prepared by Ward's Natural Science Establishment 
for Whitaker & Ray-Wiggin Co. 

In preparing this collection the aim has been 
to furnish at small cost a number of West Coast 
Mollusca so selected as to represent the principal 
families found in this region. This collection 
contains forty specimens, representing twenty- 
four families and thirty-seven genera. Every 
specimen is numbered and placed in a special 
compartment. With the collection there is a 
bulletin giving the name and a minute descrip" 
tion of each specimen. These descriptions are 
written in a popular rather than a scientific man- 
ner and treating almost entirely of the shell 
rather than the animal inhabiting it 

It is hoped by means of this cabinet to arouse 
interest so that it will serve as a nucleus for a 
larger and more complete collection. 

PacJced in strong box complete with indi- 
ridind specimen trays, $Ji*.00. 



UhttaluT & iUut-Huutiu Clin., ^att Jffraurwrn 



West Coast Mineral Collection 

Prepared by Ward's Natural Science Establishment 
for Whitaker & Ray- Wig-gin Co. 




For this collection forty varieties of West 
Coast Minerals have been represented by fair- 
sized specimens. Special care has been taken 
to include the more useful minerals, and each 
collection contains good specimens of the precious 
ores as well as of the commoner metals. This is 
an admirable selection to acquaint a class with 
the more important minerals of the Western Coast 
and to lead to the building of a more complete 
collection. 

A carefully prepared guide giving descrip- 
tion, composition, etc., of the specimens accom- 
panies each collection. 

Price, complete in strong box with individual 
specimen trays, $J/..00. 

fflltttaker $c Uay-Mtggtn (En., £>m jFrattrisrn 



DEC 30 1910 






One copy del. to Cat. Div. 



